Odisha to Provide ₹10 Lakh Interest-Free Loans to Lakhpati Didis

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to empower women entrepreneurs in Odisha, the state government will take steps to provide ₹10 lakh interest-free loans to beneficiaries of the Lakhpati Didi initiative, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida announced on Sunday.

Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development (W&CD) portfolio, said the initiative aims to elevate Lakhpati Didis into Crorepati Didis by expanding their access to capital and business opportunities.

“The state government is committed to transforming the economic condition of women. Through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), steps will be taken to facilitate interest-free loans of up to ₹10 lakh for Lakhpati Didis,” she said.

The Lakhpati Didi initiative, launched jointly by the Union and State Governments, is aimed at enabling rural women to earn at least ₹1 lakh annually by supporting them in income-generating activities through SHGs.

During her interaction with beneficiaries of the Subhadra Scheme, Deputy CM Parida urged them to submit written reports to the W&CD Department detailing how the scheme’s financial assistance has been utilized.

She also directed that successful business models created under the Subhadra Scheme should be showcased on the official Subhadra portal of the state government to inspire other women entrepreneurs.

The government’s move is seen as a strong push toward women-led economic development, with a focus on scalable and sustainable grassroots business initiatives.