Kargil: Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the District Level Steering Committee for the ‘Lakhpati Didi Initiative,’ Shrikant Suse, chaired the first district-level meeting today to assess the progress and implementation of the program in Kargil.
The meeting was attended by ADC Kargil, DSWO Kargil, ACD Kargil, CPO Kargil, heads of various line departments, as well as the program coordinator from SKUAST Kargil and the UT Nodal Officer for Skill Development (Higher Education).
District Project Manager of NRLM, Muneer Rasool, presented a detailed report on the initiative’s objectives and achievements. The ‘Lakhpati Didi Initiative,’ spearheaded by Ladakh Rural Livelihood Mission (LRLM), aims to empower women Self-Help Group (SHG) members by enabling them to earn an annual household income of over Rs 1 lakh through sustainable livelihoods, skill development, and market linkages.
The meeting highlighted that 145 women have already achieved ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status, with 1,426 more identified as potential beneficiaries. DC Kargil directed officials to draft a comprehensive action plan integrating various department initiatives in farm and non-farm activities to help more women achieve financial independence.
Key decisions included operationalizing Common Facility Centers (CFCs) as Livelihood Support Centres in every block, allocating CAPEX funds to provide three-phase electricity to VDVK Centres, and prioritizing SHG products in government events. The Cooperatives Department was instructed to allocate space in supermarkets for SHG products, further supporting their market reach.
NRLM also shared insights on training Community Resource Persons (CRPs) to facilitate credit linkages with banks and promote SHG participation in Saras exhibitions. The meeting underscored a collaborative approach to strengthening women’s entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance in Kargil.
