More than 16,000 women in Arunachal Pradesh have achieved ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status, marking a significant milestone in the state’s rural livelihood programme.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein shared the figures on September 14, 2026. He said the initiative is helping women use their skills, local resources and entrepreneurial abilities to build sustainable livelihoods.
The programme operates through self-help groups (SHGs). These groups provide women with opportunities to develop livelihoods, access financial services and participate in income-generating activities.
Nearly One Lakh Women Mobilised Through SHGs
According to the figures shared by Mein, nearly one lakh women have been mobilised through 15,999 self-help groups across Arunachal Pradesh.
The state has also identified another 36,000 potential ‘Lakhpati Didis’. This provides scope to expand the programme and bring more women into sustainable income-generating activities.
The Lakhpati Didi initiative focuses on women associated with SHGs. It aims to help them achieve a sustainable annual household income of at least ₹1 lakh.
The programme uses several approaches to reach this goal. These include diversified livelihoods, entrepreneurship, skill development, financial inclusion and coordination with government schemes.
Focus on Women-Led Livelihoods
The initiative seeks to help rural women turn existing skills and local resources into sustainable sources of income.
Women can participate in different livelihood activities based on local opportunities and their skills. The programme also seeks to connect them with finance, technology and markets.
Mein said the government wants to strengthen this network by providing women with better access to skills, finance, technology, markets and new livelihood opportunities.
He said the broader objective is to help women move from economic participation towards greater economic leadership.
Community Institutions Strengthened
Arunachal Pradesh has also created institutions to support women-led community organisations.
The state has established 1,488 primary-level federations and 91 cluster-level federations, known as CLFs.
These institutions can support SHG members in developing sustainable livelihoods and strengthening access to markets and financial services.
The government has also set a target of creating 30 ‘Viksit’ CLFs by March 2027. The initiative aims to build stronger and more self-reliant women-led community institutions.
Government Schemes to Support Potential Lakhpati Didis
Arunachal Pradesh has been working to connect potential Lakhpati Didis with various government programmes.
A state-level steering committee reviewed the initiative in June 2026. Officials discussed better coordination between departments to improve livelihood opportunities and income for SHG members.
The meeting also focused on identifying skill requirements among potential Lakhpati Didis. Officials discussed targeted training and capacity-building measures based on those requirements.
The committee also examined market-linkage opportunities. The Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board highlighted initiatives that could help SHG members reach markets and increase their income.
Such coordination is important because women may need several forms of support to build sustainable enterprises. Training, finance, technology and market access can work together to strengthen livelihood activities.
Arunachal Continues Expanding Women’s Economic Participation
The latest figures show the growing scale of SHG-based livelihood programmes in Arunachal Pradesh.
With nearly one lakh women already mobilised through 15,999 SHGs, the network provides a large platform for expanding women-led economic activities.
The identification of 36,000 potential Lakhpati Didis also indicates that the programme has a significant pool of women who could reach the income target with additional support.
The government’s focus now includes strengthening community institutions and improving access to resources. The planned expansion of Viksit CLFs forms part of this approach.
Income Growth at the Centre of the Initiative
The Lakhpati Didi programme defines success around sustainable household income rather than a one-time increase in earnings.
Women associated with SHGs can pursue multiple livelihood activities to improve household income. The programme also promotes entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and skill development.
Earlier state-level reviews stressed the need for departments to work together and ensure that potential Lakhpati Didis receive benefits under relevant government schemes.
The approach aims to create stronger links between women, community institutions, government programmes and markets.
30 Viksit CLFs Targeted by March 2027
The Arunachal Pradesh government has set a target of establishing 30 Viksit CLFs by March 2027.
These cluster-level federations are expected to strengthen women-led institutions and help SHGs become more sustainable.
The government has also emphasised capable leadership, transparent systems and financial stability within these institutions. Recent discussions have highlighted the importance of building community organisations that can support women beyond individual livelihood activities.
As the programme expands, the state will focus on bringing more women into sustainable income opportunities and strengthening the institutions that support them.
A Growing Women-Led Rural Economy
The achievement of more than 16,000 Lakhpati Didis adds another milestone to Arunachal Pradesh’s women-focused rural livelihood efforts.
The combination of 15,999 SHGs, nearly one lakh participating women and 36,000 potential Lakhpati Didis provides a broad base for further expansion.
The next phase will focus on skills, finance, technology, market connections and stronger community institutions. With the March 2027 target for 30 Viksit CLFs, the state is also seeking to strengthen the organisational structure supporting women’s livelihoods.
The latest figures place women-led livelihoods at the centre of Arunachal Pradesh’s continuing rural development efforts, with the Lakhpati Didi initiative providing a framework for sustainable income generation and greater economic participation.