Around 15,000 women registered under initiative; RDD seeks stronger branding, e-commerce, bank credit and product diversification for 2,300 SHGs.
LEH: Ladakh has set an ambitious target of identifying and supporting 800 additional Lakhpati Didis over the next three years, as the Rural Development Department (RDD) moves to strengthen women-led livelihoods, market access and income generation under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana– National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
The target was reviewed at a meeting of the Steering Committee chaired by Administrative Secretary, RDD, UT Ladakh, Nidhi Malik, which took stock of the implementation of the Lakhpati Didi, Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP), and Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH (FNHW) components across the Union Territory.
Officials informed the meeting that around 15,000 women are currently registered under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, with 383 Self-Help Group (SHG) members already identified as Lakhpati Didis. The review also covered around 2,300 SHGs functioning across Ladakh, with emphasis on expanding livelihood opportunities and improving household incomes.
A key focus of the meeting was to ensure that SHG products move beyond local markets and acquire wider consumer visibility. Malik stressed the need for stronger branding, packaging, product diversification, publicity and market promotion, directing departments to create dedicated digital and social media platforms to showcase SHG products, success stories and women-led enterprises.
She also called for greater use of e-commerce and online marketing platforms to connect Ladakh’s SHG products with markets outside the region. The departments were asked to work in convergence to provide SHGs with technical, financial and institutional support, while strengthening training, cooperative linkages and access to bank credit.
The review assumes significance as the administration seeks to transform SHGs from primarily community-based groups into sustainable, market-oriented enterprises capable of generating higher and more stable household incomes.
On the VPRP component, the meeting emphasised that poverty reduction plans prepared at the village level should be effectively integrated with Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and other development programmes. Malik stressed that livelihood priorities and local requirements identified by SHGs must find appropriate space in village development planning.
The FNHW component was also reviewed, with discussions centred on improving food and nutrition security, health awareness, sanitation and hygiene practices among rural households. Malik called for closer coordination with the Health and Social Welfare sectors and regular health and awareness camps for SHG members and rural communities.
The meeting further reviewed digital initiatives under DAY-NRLM, including Aadhaar/e-KYC compliance, portal-based processes and updating of digital records. Malik directed officials to ensure timely data updation and strengthen performance monitoring through dashboards and other digital tools.
She also reviewed training requirements, resource availability and budgetary provisions, directing officials to align capacity-building programmes with the actual needs of SHG members. Regular monitoring of key performance indicators and benchmarking Ladakh’s progress against relevant national parameters were also emphasised.
The meeting was attended virtually by the Director, RDD; District Programme Officers; representatives of Health and Social Welfare departments; CDPOs; officials of Ladakh Rural Livelihoods Mission; Assistant Commissioners Development; and other concerned officers from Leh and Kargil districts.
