**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a review meeting on February 18, 2026, of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The meeting focused on achieving the revised target of creating 6 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' and emphasized the need for financial inclusion of 10 crore women. The Minister directed officials to develop a concrete, time-bound action plan in close coordination with state governments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Mission Target and Strategy:**
* The mission aims to create 6 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' (women earning at least ₹1 lakh per year).
* Achieving this target requires connecting at least 10 crore women to financial inclusion initiatives.
* A special, focused strategy is needed, with officials directed to work on a "war footing".
* Officials are instructed to work closely with state governments.
* Officials need to prepare a concrete, time-bound action plan.
* **Financial Inclusion:**
* Financial inclusion is considered the backbone of women's empowerment in rural India.
* Bringing more women into the formal financial system is crucial.
* This includes bank linkages, credit access, insurance coverage, and financial literacy.
* **Budget Utilisation:**
* Effective and optimal utilisation of the allocated budget is essential.
* States with underperformance should receive guidance and encouragement.
* Objectives of the scheme must be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.
* **Collaboration with States:**
* Sustained dialogue and coordination with state governments are crucial.
* This strengthens the implementation of DAY-NRLM.
* Extends the benefits of the scheme to a larger number of Self-Help Groups and 'Lakhpati Didis'.
* **Commitment to 'Lakhpati Didis':**
* Government is committed to ensuring 'Lakhpati Didis' receive maximum benefits from Rural Development Ministry schemes.
* Success of the mission is not only in numerical targets but also in creating lasting economic empowerment and improved quality of life.
* **Mission Components:**
* DAY-NRLM operates through four components:
* Institutional building and capacity development.
* Social inclusion and social development.
* Financial inclusion.
* Livelihood promotion.
* **Mission Progress:**
* Approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore in financial assistance has been extended through bank linkages.
* Around 5 crore individuals have been connected with financial literacy initiatives.
* Nearly 7 crore people receiving insurance benefits under various social security schemes.
* **Mission Vision:**
* With focused implementation, close monitoring and strong coordination with states, the mission can play a decisive role in achieving the government's vision of creating millions of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and building a more inclusive, self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) rural economy.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Rural Development Officials**
* **Impact:** Required to formulate and implement the new strategy.
* **Action Required:** Develop a concrete, time-bound action plan in close coordination with state governments and ensure effective budget utilisation.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Integral to the success of the mission and need to collaborate with the Ministry.
* **Action Required:** Engage in sustained dialogue and coordination with the Union Government.
**Rural Women (especially Self-Help Groups and potential 'Lakhpati Didis')**
* **Impact:** Intended beneficiaries of the mission, aiming for economic empowerment and improved livelihoods.
* **Action Required:** Participate in financial inclusion initiatives, utilize bank linkages, and enhance skills for income-generating opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): A national rural livelihoods mission aimed at poverty reduction through building strong community institutions and providing financial assistance to rural households.
Ministry of Rural Development: The central ministry responsible for implementing rural development programs and schemes, including DAY-NRLM.
Lakhpati Didis: A target group and concept related to the DAY-NRLM initiative, aiming to create 6 crore empowered women who can earn a sustainable livelihood.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan: The Union Minister for Rural Development who is overseeing the implementation of the DAY-NRLM scheme and pushing to achieve its targets.
Ministry of Rural Development
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan issues
instructions on war footing to achieve target of 6
crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’
Action plan to link 10 crore women with financial inclusion to
be prepared: Union Rural Development Minister Shri
Chouhan
Government committed to ensuring ‘Lakhpati Didis’ receive
maximum benefit of Rural Development Ministry schemes:
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 5:55PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
on Wednesday chaired a review meeting of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (DAY–NRLM) at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi, where officials of the Ministry of Rural
Development presented updates on the implementation and progress of the mission.
During the meeting, the Union Minister sought a detailed briefing from senior officials of the Ministry on
the latest progress of the scheme. Expressing satisfaction over the overall performance of the mission, Shri
Chouhan directed officials to formulate a special, focused strategy and work on a war footing to achievethe revised target of creating 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
The Union Minister underlined that achieving the ambitious goal of 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ would
require connecting at least 10 crore women to the various financial inclusion initiatives of the Ministry of
Rural Development. He instructed officials to work in close coordination with state governments and
prepare a concrete, time-bound action plan to ensure the successful attainment of the target.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised that financial inclusion is the backbone of women’s
empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in rural India. He said that bringing more women into the
formal financial system through bank linkages, credit access, insurance coverage and financial literacy is
essential to transform Self-Help Group (SHG) members into economically independent and self-reliant
individuals.
The Union Minister also directed officials to ensure the effective and optimal utilisation of the budget
allocated under the mission. He said that states whose performance is below expectations, or where the
allocated funds are not being fully utilised, should be provided with necessary guidance, handholding and
encouragement. This, he said, is crucial to ensure that the objectives of the scheme are achieved within the
stipulated timeframe.
Highlighting the importance of continuous engagement with states, Shri Shivraj Chouhan stressed that
sustained dialogue and coordination with state governments would strengthen the implementation of DAY
– NRLM. He said that such an approach would help extend the benefits of the scheme to a larger number
of Self-Help Groups and ‘Lakhpati Didis’, enabling them to derive maximum advantage from various
livelihood and empowerment initiatives.
The Union Minister reiterated the government’s firm commitment to ensuring that ‘Lakhpati Didis’
receive the maximum possible benefits from the schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Rural
Development. He noted that the success of the mission lies not only in numerical targets but also in
creating lasting economic empowerment and improved quality of life for rural women and their families.
It was highlighted during the meeting that the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods
Mission operates through four major components. These include institutional building and capacity
development, social inclusion and social development, financial inclusion, and livelihood promotion.
Together, these components aim to create robust community institutions, enhance skills, promote inclusive
growth, and strengthen income-generating opportunities for rural households.
Under the mission, significant progress has been made in expanding access to formal credit through the
bank linkage programme. So far, approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore in financial assistance has been extended
to beneficiaries through bank linkages, enabling Self-Help Groups and their members to invest in
livelihood activities and strengthen their economic base.
In addition, around 5 crore individuals have been connected with financial literacy initiatives, equipping
them with the knowledge and skills required to manage finances, savings, credit and investments more
effectively. The mission has also played a major role in expanding social security coverage, with nearly 7
crore people receiving insurance benefits under various social security schemes.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that these achievements demonstrate the transformative impact of DAY –
NRLM on rural livelihoods and women’s empowerment. He added that with focused implementation,
close monitoring and strong coordination with states, the mission can play a decisive role in achieving the
government’s vision of creating millions of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and building a more inclusive, self-reliant
(Atmanirbhar) rural economy.The Union Minister concluded by reiterating that the government is fully committed to accelerating
progress under the mission and ensuring that rural women emerge not only as income earners, but also as
confident, empowered contributors to the nation’s development.
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