Union Minister meets ‘Lakhpati Didis’ at Saras Food Festival, hails achievements

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Tuesday, interacted with ‘Lakhpati Didis’ at the Saras Aajeevika Food Festival at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.

The event focused on women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), who have crossed an annual income of Rs 1 lakh through their enterprises.

Inaugurating the festival on Sunday, Chouhan said, “The ‘Lakhpati Didis’ have shown strength through their work and have written a new story of progress and prosperity in rural India.”

Women from 25 states participated in the festival, many of whom, he said, demonstrated how skill and community support could improve livelihoods.

Welcoming them to Delhi, the minister said, “Why should any sister remain poor or dependent? She should move ahead with skills and hard work.” He added that the SHG network was helping thousands of women gain financial stability and independence.

The initiative highlighted the women’s journeys as entrepreneurs and the self-reliance model under the DAY-NRLM.

The Saras Food Festival included over 500 traditional dishes from 25 states, served across 62 stalls managed by women from SHGs. Visitors found Himachali siddu, kalari kulcha from Jammu and Kashmir, tandoori chai from Uttarakhand, Hyderabadi biryani, North Eastern momos, kair sagari from Rajasthan, litti-chokha from Bihar, and sarson ka saag with makke ki roti from Punjab especially appealing.

Along with food stalls, several kiosks displayed rural products. Organisers said the festival provides a platform to connect visitors with India’s food practices and with women-led enterprises from rural areas.