Aajeevika Mission has become a ‘movement’, says Chouhan

Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday (January 25, 2026) said the Aajeevika Mission had grown beyond a government programme to become a “revolution and a movement”, driven by the economic and social empowerment of women in self-help groups (SHGs). He was addressing around 400 Jeevika Didis from across the country at the Samriddhi Didi se Samriddhi Rashtra: Republic Day Abhinandan Samaroh 2026 held in New Delhi.

Lauding the work of SHG members, Mr. Chouhan said the women had demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience. He reiterated the Centre’s target of creating three crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, calling it “a mantra” that would be achieved soon. Nearly 10 crore women were currently associated with SHGs, he noted.

To strengthen women’s entrepreneurship, the Ministry had introduced an end-to-end digital loan system enabling SHG members to apply for and receive loans online from any bank. The initiative, he said, would ease access to credit and advance the goal of a digitally empowered rural economy.

Mr. Chouhan also announced that Saras Melas currently held on a limited scale would be expanded beyond Delhi to give SHG products wider market access.

Minister of State Chandrashekhar Pemmasani highlighted the growing role of women in the economy, noting that they contributed 18% to India’s GDP and run nearly 10% of the country’s start-ups.