Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that loans worth over ₹11 lakh crore have been disbursed to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through formal financial institutions under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Hailing the achievement as a testament to the government’s commitment to women-led development, Chouhan said the initiative is transforming rural India by fostering financial empowerment and self-reliance among poor women. The milestone reflects the sustained efforts of the Narendra Modi government to build inclusive and resilient rural economies.
Under DAY-NRLM, rural women are provided with collateral-free loans, interest subsidies, and financial support through SHGs, helping them launch businesses and increase household incomes. Chouhan noted that the loan repayment rate has exceeded 98%, highlighting the credibility and discipline of SHG institutions.
He praised the contribution of the banking community and lauded the role of ‘Bank Sakhis’ in facilitating SHG-bank linkages, enabling timely disbursals and repayments, and enhancing financial literacy.
Chouhan said that the government is working to further strengthen repayment systems through the Community Based Repayment Mechanism (CBRM), while encouraging Aadhaar and mobile seeding of accounts for greater financial inclusion.
He also cited complementary programmes like ‘Lakhpati Didi’, which aim to boost women’s income and economic resilience, stating, “This achievement is not just a statistic – it is a powerful symbol of what women can accomplish when given trust, resources, and opportunity.”
