008. Lakhpati Baideo – Assam’s Investment in Rural Sisterhood 💰
Women Empowerment, Rural Economy, Governance, Social Justice
By IAS Monk / April 2, 2025
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled Lakhpati Baideo, a flagship scheme to turn Assam’s women SHG members into entrepreneurs and household wealth creators.
With a ₹4,000 crore vision and a three-year roadmap, the programme hopes to light up 40 lakh women with financial dignity and digital opportunity.
🌾 What is Lakhpati Baideo?
- Empowerment scheme for women SHG members
- Seed capital + loan + grant structured support
- E-commerce + training + healthcare + education
- Rooted in rural self-reliance & women-led growth
📊 Year-Wise Financial Structure
| Year | Support | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Seed Capital | ₹10,000 |
| 2nd | Loan + Grant | ₹25,000 (₹12,500 each) |
| 3rd | Based on success | ₹50,000 |
Total Estimated Budget: ₹4,000 crore
👩🌾 Who Can Apply?
- SHG women from General, OBC, SC, ST
- Family Planning Eligibility:
➤ Max 3 children (Gen/OBC)
➤ Max 4 children (SC/ST) - Must submit a business plan
🧠 Training & Ecosystem Support
- E-commerce platform for product sales
- Business mentoring and financial literacy
- Healthcare camps + Tuition support for children
- Sustainable rural entrepreneurship
🧬 Population Policy Linkage
- Scheme aligned with Assam’s population control goals
- Encourages family responsibility alongside entrepreneurship
- Integrated development + demographic discipline
📚 Relevance for UPSC
- GS2: Welfare Schemes, Women Empowerment
- GS3: Rural Development, Entrepreneurship
- Essay: “To empower a woman is to ignite an economy.”
✨ Closing Whisper
“When you give a woman capital, she builds a world that earns, learns, and heals.”
🔥 A Thought Spark – by IAS Monk
Every ₹10,000 given under Lakhpati Baideo is a seed of self-worth, watered by strategy and sunlighted by training.
It’s a scheme that says: “We don’t rescue our sisters—we invest in them.”
