**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 2538 in Lok Sabha regarding the Lakhpati Didi beneficiaries, specifically addressing the representation of women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The question was answered on December 16, 2025, outlining the initiative's goals, current beneficiary statistics, and measures to include vulnerable communities. The aim is to empower rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Lakhpati Didi Initiative:**
* Aims to empower rural women through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
* Objective: Enable SHG rural women to earn a minimum of ₹1 lakh per annum sustainably.
* **Beneficiary Statistics (as of December 31, 2024):**
* 21.45% of Lakhpati Didis belong to the SC category.
* 14.18% belong to the ST category.
* 42.89% belong to the OBC category.
* **Inclusion of Vulnerable Communities:**
* NRLM mobilizes women from vulnerable communities, including SC/STs, into SHGs.
* The target group is determined through a transparent Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) process, vetted by the Gram Sabha and approved by the Gram Panchayat.
* State Missions have been advised to prioritize Integrated Action Plan (IAP) Districts.
* States must prepare a social inclusion plan to mobilize SCs and STs into SHGs.
* **Social Management Framework (SMF) Focus:**
* Focuses on social inclusion, accountability, and safeguards, particularly for marginalized groups like SCs, STs, and PVTGs.
* **"Namo Drone Didi" Guidelines:**
* CLFs/State Level Committee identifies active SHG members for training and designation as drone pilots.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Rural Women (Specifically SC/ST/OBC)**
* **Impact:** Targeted for economic empowerment through SHGs and the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
* **Action Required:** Participate in SHGs and related training programs to achieve the income goal of ₹1 lakh per annum.
**Stakeholder: State Missions and Gram Panchayats**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing NRLM and ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable communities.
* **Action Required:** Prioritize IAP Districts, prepare a social inclusion plan, conduct transparent PIP processes, and vet/approve target groups at the Gram Sabha level.
**Stakeholder: CLFs/State Level Committee**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the "Namo Drone Didi" guidelines
* **Action Required:** Identify active SHG member to be trained and designated as the drone pilot.
Key Entities Referenced
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): A government program aimed at empowering rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Lakhpati Didi: An initiative under DAY-NRLM with the objective to empower and enable Self-Help Groups (SHG) rural women to earn a minimum income of Rupees one lakh per annum.
Ministry of Rural Development: The government ministry responsible for the DAY-NRLM and the Lakhpati Didi program.
Self-Help Groups (SHG): Groups of rural women that are the central focus of the DAY-NRLM and Lakhpati Didi initiatives.
Namo Drone Didi: Related guidelines to the Lakhpati Didi scheme, focused on drone piloting.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2538
ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025
LAKHPATI DIDI BENEFICIARIES
2538. Adv. Chandra Shekhar:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details and number of women belonging to Scheduled
Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
(SC/ST/OBC) and designated as Lakhpati Didis under the target
of three crore by 2027 announced in the Budget 2025-26,
category-wise;
(b) whether the Ministry analysed the proportion of SC/ST women
beneficiaries in the current 1.25 crore, especially considering
their socio-economic status; and
(c) if so, the details of measures proposed for the States where
Dalit and Adivasi women reportedly face exclusion from SHGs
and Drone Didi training programmes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT\
(DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)
(a): Lakhpati Didi is an initiative of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-
National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) with the objective to
empower and enable Self-Help Groups (SHG) rural women to earn a
minimum income of Rupees one lakh per annum on a sustainable
basis, for at least 4 agricultural seasons and/ or business cycles. As
of 31.12.2024, 21.45% of total Lakhpati Didis belongs to the SC
category, 14.18% belongs to the ST category, and 42.89% belongs to
OBC category.
(b) & (c): Under NRLM, women from Vulnerable communities
including SC/STs are mobilised into SHGs in coordination with the
Page 1 of 2States. The target group under DAY-NRLM is determined by a well-
defined, transparent and equitable process of participatory
identification of poor (PIP), anchored by the members of the target
communities. All households identified as poor through the PIP,
processes, including households with at least one deprivation, data
presented to the Gram Sabha for vetting and subsequently approved
by Gram Panchayat and thus become DAY-NRLM Target Group
households and are eligible for all the benefits under the programme.
The State Missions have been advised to prioritize Integrated
Action Plan (IAP) Districts for DAY-NRLM intensive activities. The
Social Management Framework (SMF) for DAY-NRLM focuses on
social inclusion, social accountability and social safeguards
particularly focusing on marginalized and vulnerable social groups
including the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs)
and the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Every State
has been directed to prepare a social inclusion plan to guide their
efforts to mobilize vulnerable groups including the SCs and the STs
into SHGs and promote their financial and economic inclusion to
ensure better livelihoods.
As per the “Namo Drone Didi” guidelines, the CLFs/State Level
Committee identifies one active SHG member to be trained and
designated as the drone pilot.
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