Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget for 2024 in Parliament on Thursday. In the context of his budget speech he highlighted the achievements of the government in the last 10 years.
The Finance Minister has announced to make 3 crore women of the country as Lakhpati Baideo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on August 15, 2023 announced the launch of the Lakhpati Baideo scheme on the occasion of Independence Day.
He had set a target of creating two crore lakhpati baideos in the country. Now Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has increased this target to Rs 3 crore.
The lakhpati baideo scheme aims at poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Under this scheme, skill training will be provided to women so that they can earn more than One lakh rupees annually.
The scheme will be implemented through women Self Help Groups. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be provided drones for construction of Lakhpati Baideo and they will be trained in drone operations and repairs.
In November last year, the Cabinet Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had decided to provide drones to 15,000 women Self Help Groups at a cost of Rs 1261 crore under the Lakhpati Baideo scheme. The meeting also decided to provide 14,500 drones to women SELF-Help Groups (SHGs) between the two financial years 2024-25 and the financial year 25-26.
Any Class 10 woman above 18 years of age associated with self-help groups will be given 15 days of drone flying training. The pilot woman will get Rs 15,000 per month. There will also be associate pilots to assist the pilot who will be given Rs 10,000 per month. Similarly, a section of women will also be trained in repairing drones, which will be given Rs 5,000 per month.
By March 2023-24, fertiliser companies will give 500 drones to women SELF-Help Groups. This drone will be used especially for cultivation by spraying pesticides and fertilisers. These drones will be hired to farmers who will generate income for women SHGs.