Powering Rural Prosperity: National Entrepreneurship Campaign to Train 50,000 CRPs and Empower 5 Million SHG Women
Targeting the 'Lakhpati Didi' vision, the Ministry of Rural Development launches a transformative drive to build a self-reliant, non-farm rural economy across India.
The Ministry of Rural Development has launched the National Entrepreneurship Campaign (Rashtriya Udyamita Abhiyan) under the flagship Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). Anchored by the inspiring motto "Har Ghar Udyam, Har Gaon Samriddh" (Every Home an Enterprise, Every Village Prosperous), this initiative aims to drive non-farm economic growth by turning rural women into successful entrepreneurs.
Core Objectives and Capacity Building Target
The campaign establishes a comprehensive training framework to strengthen the grassroots ecosystem for rural enterprises:
Training 50,000 Community Resource Persons (CRPs): Ground-level facilitators will receive specialized capacity-building to act as catalysts for enterprise identification, setup support, and long-term mentorship.
Empowering 5.0 Million SHG Members: Over 50 lakh Self-Help Group (SHG) women will undergo direct entrepreneurship development training to build sustainable, income-generating ventures.
Scaling the 'Lakhpati Didi' Vision: The program directly supports the government's mandate to create at least 3 crore Lakhpati Didis—SHG women earning a minimum annual income of ₹1,00,000.
Strategic Launch and High-Level Stakeholder Synergy
Officially launched on January 12, 2026, by the Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development, the launch event united key leadership and institutional partners committed to rural transformation:
Government & Financial Institutions: Senior representatives from NITI Aayog, NABARD, and State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs).
Knowledge & Academic Partners: Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, and IFMR Lead (Krea University).
Development Partners: Strategic support from global organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Long-Term Impact on the Rural Economy
Building upon proven non-farm livelihood models like the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), the National Entrepreneurship Campaign promises far-reaching economic outcomes:
Grassroots Credit Access: Opens direct channels for micro-enterprises to access formal credit institutions and financial services.
Diverse Livelihoods: Shifts reliance away from traditional agriculture by expanding robust non-farm enterprise models.
Inclusive Local Growth: Creates a self-sustaining, resilient rural market ecosystem led by empowered women entrepreneurs.
