In a major milestone for women empowerment and rural economic growth, over 26.59 lakh women in Odisha have achieved the status of “Lakhpati Didis” through initiatives under the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM).
The achievement was highlighted during the 5th Governing Committee meeting of OLM, held at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Secy Garg emphasized the need to strengthen rural household incomes and deepen financial independence for women through the effective implementation of livelihood programs. She advocated for innovative thinking, continuous improvement, and actionable frameworks to ensure sustainable long-term impact.
A key focus of the meeting was elevating successful Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into full-fledged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Smt. Garg instructed officials to benchmark high-performing SHGs and SMEs as role models to inspire and guide other community groups across the state.
She further directed prioritized execution of livelihood interventions in regions covered under the Gramoday and PM-JANMAN schemes, while calling for regular monitoring and progress evaluations across all ongoing programs.
The meeting commenced with a review of decisions taken during the 4th Governing Committee meeting held on September 10, 2025, alongside an update on the decisions from the 6th Executive Committee. Discussions also covered the registration status of Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFS).
Dr. Monika Priyadarshini, State Mission Director and CEO of Mission Shakti, presented a comprehensive overview of OLM’s key operational areas, including:
- Livelihood Diversity: Over 50 lakh members (84%) are engaged in farm-based livelihoods, more than 2 lakh in service sectors, and 2.30 lakh in non-farm and other enterprise sectors.
- Enhanced Credit Access: The average bank loan size for SHGs rose significantly from ₹4 lakh in 2024 to ₹5.96 lakh in 2026.
- Bank Linkage Reach: A total credit assistance of ₹75,116 crore has been extended to 5.95 lakh SHGs, facilitating business expansion and economic empowerment.
- Entrepreneurship Support: Financial support amounting to ₹7,997 crore has been disbursed to 1.70 lakh individual and group entrepreneurs.
The committee also reviewed the progress of key social security schemes among SHG members. Registration targets under national insurance schemes achieved remarkable performance:
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Reached 96% of its annual target of 37 lakh registrations for 2026–27.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Achieved 97% of its annual target of 47.26 lakh registrations.
The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, along with Commissioners, Secretaries, and senior officials from the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts, Mission Shakti, and Women & Child Development departments.
