Raksha Bandhan Celebrations Highlight Women’s Empowerment — Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Backs SHG Women With Six Key Resolutions
This Raksha Bandhan, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, marked the occasion in a special way — by tying Swadeshi rakhis handcrafted by Self-Help Group (SHG) women and addressing them with a vision for empowerment.
Speaking to SHG members (fondly referred to as Didis) from across the country, Shri Chouhan encouraged them to take up six powerful resolutions:
- Promote Swadeshi — make, buy, and use indigenous products.
- Bring more women into SHGs — encourage those who are not yet members to join.
- Aim for financial independence — work towards becoming a Lakhpati Didi (earning at least ₹1 lakh annually).
- Ensure education for all — make sure every child in the village goes to school.
- End malnutrition — guarantee nutritious food for every child.
- Say no to addiction — lead anti-addiction drives in villages.
The Minister emphasised that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, women’s empowerment has been a national priority. Designated programs such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, benefits to maternity under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and clean cooking fuel through Ujjwala Yojana have all changed women’s lives. Legal provisions have accelerated women’s rights with lower property registration fees for women and joint ownership under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana.
Drawing from his own work in Madhya Pradesh, Shri Chouhan cited the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, which links financial aid with girls’ education, noting that around 55 lakh daughters have already benefited.
He commended SHG women for changing their lives and their communities. He noted how more than 10 crore women are part of 91 lakh SHGs across the country, with bank credit under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission amounting to ₹11 lakh crore.
“With women’s advances and families flourishing, we prosper as a nation,” said Shri Chouhan. He promised continued government support to help women become entrepreneurs and expressed confidence in achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of creating 3 crore Lakhpati Didis ahead of schedule.
The event saw participation from more than 700 locations via video conferencing, alongside senior officials including Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.
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