Congratulates RDD, UMEED; Union Min Chouhan hails achievements
Srinagar, May 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday congratulated the Rural Development Department and the J&K Rural Livelihoods Mission (UMEED) for their remarkable contribution towards transforming rural livelihoods and empowering women across Jammu and Kashmir, with Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan also commending J&K’s achievements as a strong example of inclusive and women-led rural transformation.
The CM said the sustained efforts of the Rural Development Department and UMEED have brought about significant socio-economic transformation in rural areas by strengthening women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) and promoting financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that continued focus on scaling high-value enterprises, strengthening market ecosystems, and deepening convergence would further accelerate progress achieved under UMEED. Expressing confidence in the programme’s future trajectory, he said Jammu and Kashmir would continue to set benchmarks in women-led rural development.
The Union Minister observed that J&K has emerged as a strong example of inclusive and women-led rural transformation under UMEED, highlighting that the progress has been complemented by over ₹3,106 crore in bank credit and ₹820 crore in capitalisation support facilitated under the programme.
Over 8.10 lakh women have been mobilised into more than 96,000 SHGs, with over ₹3,106 crore in bank credit facilitated and more than 2.30 lakh women achieving annual incomes above ₹1 lakh under the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
During his Budget Speech 2026-27, the Chief Minister had reiterated that under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, 2,00,952 SHG women had already become Lakhpati Didis, while the remaining 32,048 potential households would be covered by June 2026. He had also stated that the government would proactively increase the number of Lakhpati Didis by converging the initiative with Mission Yuva.