Budget 2024: Unveiled 'Lakhpati Didi' Scheme
Lakhpati Didi Scheme: In a groundbreaking move, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a significant enhancement to the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme during her interim budget announcement. This initiative aims to uplift self-help group (SHG) workers, predominantly women, by ensuring a sustainable annual income of at least one lakh rupees.
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| Budget 2024: Empowering Women Through 'Lakhpati Didi' Scheme |
Understanding 'Lakhpati Didi' Initiative
The 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme, first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech last year, focuses on providing skill development training to 20 million women in rural areas. The target is to empower them with skills such as plumbing, LED bulb making, and operating and repairing drones.
Setting Ambitious Targets
Minister Sitharaman highlighted the success of 83 lakh SHGs comprising nine crore women, transforming the rural socio-economic landscape. A remarkable one crore women have already achieved the 'Lakhpati Didi' status. Encouraged by this triumph, the government has elevated the target from 2 crore to an ambitious 3 crore.
Key Budget Announcements for Women Empowerment
While emphasizing the 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative, the finance minister unveiled other crucial budget announcements dedicated to women empowerment.
Expanding Healthcare Coverage
One notable move is the extension of healthcare insurance cover under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to all anganwadi and ASHA workers. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) stands as the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, providing ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
Advancements in Education
Minister Sitharaman celebrated the strides in women's education, with female enrollment in higher education witnessing a remarkable 28% increase over the past decade. In STEM courses, girls and women constitute 43% of enrollment, showcasing India's global leadership in promoting women in science and technology.
Strengthening Legal and Political Representation
The minister also highlighted pivotal steps towards legal and political empowerment, including the criminalization of triple talaq, reservation of one-third seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, and allocating over 70% of houses under the PM Awas Yojana to women, thus enhancing their dignity.
In summary, the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme emerges as a catalyst for transforming the lives of millions of women, contributing to rural development and socio-economic empowerment. This budget not only addresses financial aspects but also emphasizes holistic measures to uplift women across various sectors, marking a pivotal moment in India's journey towards gender inclusivity.
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