Bhubaneswar, March 23: Empowering women economically is central to inclusive growth. The Government of Odisha, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has made notable progress in this domain through its ambitious 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative, aligned closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of women empowerment. Odisha’s success has positioned it second nationwide, with over 9.36 lakh women already achieving annual earnings of Rs1 lakh or more.

A remarkable example of this transformation is Dipanjali Chotray from Kumbhilo village, Barasahi GP, Khordha Block. Before her entrepreneurial journey, Dipanjali's family depended on sharecropping and a modest grocery store, which often fell short in meeting daily financial needs. Her life turned around dramatically after joining the Biswa Jagruti Self-Help Group (SHG) in 2021.

Through SHG training, Dipanjali learned about the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) loan scheme. Determined to uplift her family's economic status, she availed a Rs 40,000 seed capital loan under PMFME, supplemented by additional loans of Rs 15,000 from the Gram Panchayat Level Federation.

Using this investment, she expanded her grocery shop significantly, diversifying into spice processing, packaging, and sales. Dipanjali also ventured into producing traditional 'Badi' (sun-dried lentil dumplings), successfully marketing her products in various district and state-level melas, enhancing her product visibility and customer base.

Today, Dipanjali proudly earns an annual gross income of Rs 3,36,000, with a net profit of Rs 2,16,000. This remarkable growth has empowered her to provide better education to her children and improved her family’s financial stability substantially.

The success of women like Dipanjali has been strategically supported by the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) through capacity building, financial inclusion, and robust market linkages. Events like the recent Subhadra Shakti Mela, held in Bhubaneswar, further underline this initiative’s effectiveness. This mela, attended by hundreds of SHGs, achieved cumulative sales exceeding Rs 5 crore, providing significant exposure and financial gains to women entrepreneurs.

To ensure sustainable economic progress for these women, OLM has introduced structured market linkage strategies, leveraging digital platforms, E-commerce, and export opportunities. Certifications like ISO, Organic, and Fair Trade further enhance product credibility and acceptance in wider markets, significantly benefiting rural women entrepreneurs.

The journey of women like Dipanjali demonstrates that given the right opportunities, rural women can drive significant social and economic change. The 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative is not merely an economic program but a social revolution reshaping women’s roles across Odisha. It stands as a powerful testimony to the state’s commitment to inclusive growth, financial independence, and women's empowerment, transforming Odisha one successful woman entrepreneur at a time.

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