The Maharashtra government is unwavering in its commitment to the ‘Ladki Bahin’ program, aiming to uplift women across the state by creating one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ – women who will independently earn at least ₹1 lakh annually. This ambitious goal was reiterated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), during the launch of the statewide ‘Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan’ in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
During the event, the Chief Minister emphasized the crucial link between rural progress and the state’s overall prosperity. He stated that Maharashtra cannot truly flourish unless its villages, its poor, and its laborers thrive. To achieve this, the government plans to provide substantial employment opportunities to women by establishing women-led credit societies in villages. These societies will not only offer financial independence but also serve as catalysts for local economic growth.
The ‘Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan’ is a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure that every village benefits from both central and state welfare schemes. Dispelling rumors, CM Fadnavis assured the public that the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’, which provides eligible women beneficiaries with a monthly assistance of ₹1,500, will absolutely not be discontinued. He urged citizens to disregard claims of its scrapping, promising instead to expand its scope beyond monetary aid.
Under this vision, women are being offered interest-free loans of ₹1 lakh to kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys. Fadnavis envisions a future where women are not merely recipients of aid but self-employed individuals and job creators for others. The campaign will also encompass dedicated schemes for Dalit and Adivasi communities, ensuring inclusive growth. To further incentivize progress, the government will allocate ₹250 crore in awards to villages that demonstrate outstanding performance within the ‘Abhiyan’.
Recalling the success of the previous ‘Gram Samruddhi Abhiyan’ which fostered many model villages, the Chief Minister announced plans to transform 28,000 gram panchayats and 40,000 villages into model communities. The current ‘Abhiyan’ aims to bolster villages financially through a blend of public participation, government funding, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It also focuses on environmental sustainability, promoting the creation of clean and green villages through extensive plantations and ensuring access to clean water through government schemes and community efforts.
The government intends to generate significant employment within villages by synergizing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with other government programs. This integrated approach will facilitate various village-level projects, including the construction of Anganwadis, roads, water tanks, and the deepening of drains. Furthermore, the campaign will empower local groups by launching a scheme to boost village-level societies, enabling them to engage in 17 different types of businesses.
Addressing local concerns, Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat, representing Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, appealed to the government for the swift completion of pending projects in the Marathwada region. He highlighted the region’s historical vulnerability to insufficient rainfall, underscoring the need for dedicated welfare packages. In response, CM Fadnavis affirmed the government’s primary objective: to make the Marathwada region entirely drought-free, signaling a strong commitment to its progress.