Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lit up a Republic Day prelude event in New Delhi on Sunday, revealing that India has already crossed 2 crore Lakhpati Didis and is marching towards 3 crore. These ‘millionaire sisters’ from rural backgrounds are the backbone of inclusive growth, and Chouhan felicitated over 400 of them, including SHG leaders and PMAY-G beneficiaries, for their stellar contributions to community institutions and rural economies.

In his address, Chouhan portrayed Republic Day as a grand ode to the resilience of SHG women whose stories of empowerment inspire millions. He lauded their role in fostering self-belief among peers, turning villages into hubs of enterprise and progress.

Drawing a clear line, Chouhan stated that national prosperity hinges on women’s economic strength. DAY-NRLM has been instrumental, offering seamless credit linkages, skill-building, and market access that propel women from dependency to leadership.

He called for dismantling deep-rooted discriminatory norms through initiatives like Ladli Laxmi and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, which prioritize girl child welfare and education. Remarkably, women now helm 25% of SMEs, injecting vitality into India’s economic fabric.

Chouhan detailed how DAY-NRLM bridges rural producers to urban consumers via e-commerce giants and digital platforms. With smartphones in hand, these Didis are navigating value chains, bargaining better prices, and expanding enterprises—setting the stage for a fully developed India by 2047.