Women’s Skills Gaining New Recognition: Steps Towards Self-Reliance

Raipur : Women are gaining new recognition for their talents and are steadily moving towards self-reliance. The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is proving to be a milestone in empowering women to become economically independent. Under this initiative, women are being trained in traditional skills like weaving, embroidery, and garment production, making them employment-ready.

In Rajnandgaon district, 20 women each from Sendri village of Dongargarh block and Narayanpur have been trained by the Village Industries Handloom Department in producing tunics, uniforms, towels, bed sheets, and other textile items. As a result, these women are now earning ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 per month.

These trained women are now working through the Jai Gadhmata Weaver Cooperative Society (Thakurtola) under the Chhattisgarh State Handloom Development and Marketing Federation, Raipur, producing and marketing fabrics under government textile supply schemes. Their engagement in the handloom industry is providing them year-round employment, helping them earn more than ₹1 lakh annually.

The women involved in weaving are now steadily progressing towards becoming “Lakhpati Didis.” Given the quality, color combinations, and traditional aesthetic of handloom products, there is a strong market demand for them. This scheme has not only improved their economic status but has also earned them a respectable place in society. It has become a means of livelihood and a source of confidence and empowerment for women in rural areas.