When Women Are Empowered, the State Becomes Strong: Minister Lakshmi Rajwade

“Laxmi Sakhi Millets Cart” Initiative Accelerates Self-Reliance

Raipur, April 2026: Emphasizing that women’s empowerment is the foundation of overall development, Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade said that when women are empowered, families, society, and the entire state become stronger. She was addressing a state-level distribution program of the “Laxmi Sakhi Millets Cart” held at her residence in Naya Raipur.

The minister stated that the state government is continuously working to make women self-reliant and integrate them into the mainstream of development. During the program, she distributed “Laxmi Sakhi Millets Carts” and cheques to women from various self-help groups. Several beneficiaries were present on the occasion.

Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Rajwade said that the millets cart campaign has emerged as a powerful means of self-employment for women. For instance, Lokeshwari Rasiya from Narharpur village in Kanker district, along with other women, is earning between ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 daily and around ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 per month through this initiative.

She added that the government aims to create more “Lakhpati Didis” by ensuring financial empowerment for women. According to her, women’s empowerment is not limited to implementing schemes but involves building confidence, capability, and equal opportunities. When women are educated, capable, and self-reliant, it leads to the holistic development of families and society, while also strengthening the state’s economy.

In this direction, government schemes such as the Women’s Fund Scheme and the Saksham Scheme are playing a vital role. Under the Women’s Fund Scheme, loans have been provided to women in self-help groups at an annual interest rate of just 3 percent since 2003. Initially, loans of up to ₹2 lakh are provided, and upon timely repayment, a second loan of up to ₹6 lakh is granted. In 2021, the state government waived old loans worth ₹12.77 crore, enabling around 100,000 women to become eligible for fresh loans.

According to official data, in 2022–23, loans worth ₹10.70 crore were distributed to 10,500 women. For 2023–24, a target of ₹31 crore has been set for 2,500 groups. Similarly, under the Saksham Scheme, loans worth ₹2.63 crore were sanctioned in 2022–23 to encourage individual self-employment among women.

As a result of these initiatives, women are engaging in various livelihood activities such as papad making, cosmetics, and grocery businesses, earning between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 per month and moving towards self-reliance.

The “Laxmi Millets Cart” campaign was launched on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2026) in Bastar by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Minister Lakshmi Rajwade. The initiative is creating new self-employment opportunities for women across the state, with notable success seen particularly in Narharpur and Kanker regions.

Rajwade also mentioned that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts are being made to promote concepts like “Lakhpati Didi” to economically empower women. She said that the state government’s schemes are delivering concrete results in this direction.

The event was attended by Director of the Women and Child Development Department Dr. Renuka Shrivastava, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Girish Chandel, District Program Officer Shail Thakur, National Coordinator of the Saathi Project Manish Sahu, Nodal Officer Professor Gajendra Chandrakar, along with other public representatives and beneficiaries.