Bhopal. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Livelihood Mission Capacity Building Workshop of Self-Help Groups at Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium on Wednesday. He started the program by lighting the lamp and addressed the sisters present. On this occasion, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Skill Development Minister Shri Gautam Tetwal and Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Smt. Radha Singh were also present.

Overview of Self Help Group Product Exhibition and Millets Café

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav inspected the product stalls set up by the sisters of self-help groups from different districts and interacted with them. He also tasted the local cuisine at Millets Café in Village Cantonment Plateau at the exhibition site. He flagged off 7 vehicles under the Aajeevika Gramin Express Scheme. During this, a special Holi hamper prepared by the Didis of Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission was also launched. This Holi hamper contains a total of 10 products including natural colours, desi ghee, sweets, cow food, puja material and t-shirts. A short film focusing on this hamper prepared by the Didis of Ujjain, Sagar, Katni, Sehore and Rewa districts was also screened.

65 lakh didis empowered by 5 lakh self-help groups, 12 lakh became millionaires

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the sisters associated with the Livelihood Mission are a strong example of unity and self-reliance. He said that with the spirit of 'Band Mutthi Lakh Ki', the sisters are strengthening the economy of the state and the country. Today women are ahead in tasks ranging from driving tractors and drones to filling gas and petrol. They are earning better income through small scale industries like café operation, meeting market targets, pickle and papad manufacturing. More than 65 lakh women are associated with more than 5 lakh self-help groups in the state. Of these, more than 12 lakh women have become “Lakhpati Didi”.

Self-help groups did business worth Rs 310 crore in a year

The Chief Minister said that the state government is fully committed to the empowerment of women. Self-help groups have done business worth Rs 310 crore in a year through various companies and fairs. He said that Madhya Pradesh is the largest natural farming state in the country. About 50 thousand women are associated with natural farming and are playing an active role in this field.

26% increase in Women and Child Development Budget 2026-27

The state government has increased the budget of the Women and Child Development Department by 26 percent in the budget for the year 2026-27. Also, 34 percent of the total budget has been earmarked for rural development. The Chief Minister said that this day is a golden day in the history of rural economy and women entrepreneurship. He said that the dishes prepared by the hands of mother, daughters and sisters in the family are the basis of happiness of festivals. The initiative to connect the products made by women to the global market through the Livelihood Mission is commendable. Today's capacity building workshop will give a new direction to the skills of women.

Natural Farming Training Module Release and MOU Exchange

Training modules to promote natural farming were released in the workshop. In the presence of the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (MPSRLM) exchanged MoUs with India Post, Amazon Saheli, Access Development Service, Buddha Institute TRIF and Sightsaver Institute. The Chief Minister honored the sisters of 5 self-help groups who did excellent work. Mrs. Meenakshi Fargate from Guna district shared her success story in the marketing field.