On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, celebrated the festival with Self-Help Group (SHG) Didis and Lakhpati Didis from across the country and reiterated the Government's unwavering commitment towards their empowerment, prosperity and well-being. The programme was organized by the Ministry of Rural Development under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), with participation of SHG members from across the country through virtual mode.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended Raksha Bandhan greetings to women associated with Self-Help Groups and described the festival as a symbol of trust, responsibility and collective progress. He stated that Raksha Bandhan is not merely a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters but also a reminder of society's shared responsibility towards dignity, security and empowerment of women.

The Union Minister emphasized that Self-Help Groups have emerged as the backbone of rural transformation and have demonstrated how collective effort, entrepreneurship and determination can transform lives and communities. He noted that the success of Lakhpati Didis stands as a shining example of rural women's economic independence, confidence and leadership in driving social and economic change across rural India.

Reaffirming the Government's commitment towards women-led development under the leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Minister assured SHG Didis that the Ministry would continue extending support through skill development, access to affordable credit, digital empowerment, enterprise promotion and strengthened market linkages. He stated that the vision of the Government is to ensure that every SHG Didi becomes a symbol of self-reliance and every village emerges as a centre of prosperity and inclusive growth.

The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministry, including Mr Amit Shukla,Joint Secretary, Joint Secretary, Ms. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary (Rural Livelihoods), Dr Molishree, Director, DAY-NRLM, and other officers of the Ministry. In her welcome address, Ms. Swati Sharma described the occasion as a celebration of affection, empowerment and self-reliance and highlighted the remarkable journey of SHG women towards economic and social transformation.

During the programme, Lakhpati Didis from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh tied Rakhi to the Ministers, while thousands of SHG members joined virtually through Village Organisations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Self-Help Groups from different parts of the country. A vote of thanks was delivered on behalf of the participating Didis, expressing gratitude to the Government for its continued support towards women's empowerment and livelihood enhancement.

DAY-NRLM has mobilised more than 10 crore rural women into Self-Help Groups, creating one of the world's largest women-led community institutional networks. Through access to finance, capacity building, livelihood diversification, digital inclusion and market access initiatives, the Mission continues to strengthen women-led enterprises and promote sustainable rural livelihoods. The celebration of Raksha Bandhan with SHG Didis reaffirmed the strong bond of trust between the Government and rural women and underscored the Government's commitment towards building a self-reliant, prosperous and developed India through women-led development.

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