In a landmark step towards strengthening livelihoods in rural India and promoting economic self-reliance among women, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

The objective of this MoU is to strengthen livelihood opportunities in rural areas by combining the technical expertise and institutional framework of MSDE with the extensive grassroots reach and implementation capabilities of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

The aim is to enhance the skills, market access, and entrepreneurial capabilities of women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) so that they can become a part of the global workforce. A key focus of this collaboration is to raise awareness about the skill development and entrepreneurship programs of both ministries and to align these initiatives with local market needs and emerging opportunities.

Through this partnership, priority will be given to demand-driven skill training and practical entrepreneurship development to empower SHG women to become “Lakhpati Didis”. Efforts will be made to ensure that training modules and curricula are contextualized to local realities and aligned with emerging job markets and future skill requirements. Using the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), SHG women and trainers will receive formal certification for their skills. Additionally, comprehensive support will be provided through services such as financial literacy, market linkages, legal compliance, business development, and mentoring.

This partnership will not only help fulfill the economic aspirations of rural communities but will also play a pivotal role in promoting entrepreneurship and empowering rural families through outcome-based training programs. It reflects the shared commitment of both ministries to provide advanced skill training, entrepreneurship development, and sustainable employment opportunities to members of SHGs in rural India.

The signing of the MoU was graced by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, and the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, was also present on the occasion.

This MoU is a concrete step towards realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, which prioritizes economic diversification and sustainable development in rural areas. Together, the two ministries will work to economically empower women from SHGs, elevate them into higher income brackets through initiatives like the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ campaign, and provide training aligned with the needs of local markets.

This partnership aims to equip SHG women with digital and financial literacy, connect them to markets, enhance their legal awareness, and build capacity in business development. It will also ensure formal recognition of their skills through certification via SIDH. Training will be delivered at the grassroots level by leveraging networks of institutions such as ITIs, Jan Shikshan Sansthans, RSETIs, and NIESBUD. In addition, the partnership will jointly facilitate awareness campaigns, village-level camps, and entrepreneurship fairs to further strengthen outreach and impact.

Under this MoU, the implementation at the grassroots level will be strengthened by linking State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) with District Skill Committees (DSCs). Institutional coordination between SRLMs and DSCs will be facilitated to ensure that the skill development needs of SHG women are effectively integrated into the District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs).

The duration of this MoU is three years. To ensure regular monitoring of the partnership's progress, a Joint Review Committee will be established, which will conduct quarterly reviews of the ongoing initiatives. Under this partnership, the MoRD, through the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, will also provide financial support for the implementation of targeted skill training and entrepreneurship development programs for beneficiaries from Self-Help Groups. This arrangement will help ensure the quality, effectiveness, and outreach of the training programs.

Under this partnership, the roles of MoRD and MSDE have been clearly defined. MoRD will be responsible for identifying beneficiaries, supporting curriculum development, disseminating training materials, providing entrepreneurship training to SHG women to help them establish viable enterprises, and coordinating state-level training programs.

On the other hand, MSDE will focus on developing skill-based curricula, organizing trainer training programs, leveraging existing skill infrastructure, providing certification through SIDH, and implementing an effective monitoring mechanism for the entire program. This coordinated effort will ensure that the training delivered is not only of high quality but also outcome-oriented.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, said, “This partnership marks a decisive step towards strengthening the social and economic foundation of rural India. It is a major initiative to bring livelihoods, skills, and entrepreneurship onto a common platform to empower millions of women in Self-Help Groups and make them self-reliant. Rural women will be provided with demand-driven training, digital and financial literacy, and opportunities for market linkages. This training will reach the grassroots level through the institutional networks of ITIs, RSETIs, JSS, and NIESBUD. Through the SIDH portal, we will also provide formal recognition of their skills. This is not just about economic empowerment—it lays the foundation for placing women in leadership roles, where they become not only job seekers but also job creators.”

“True equality is rooted in economic self-reliance — and today’s women are moving forward with an incredible capacity to learn. After receiving training, they have become even more empowered, and over 1.48 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ are a living testament to this transformation. Our aim is to ensure that more and more Didis are trained in line with future requirements and become ‘Future-Skilled Didis’, making full use of the infrastructure of ITIs and polytechnic institutions. When India’s population becomes skilled, it becomes the world’s greatest strength. Today, the world needs skilled manpower — and when our hands are equipped with skills, India will lead not just within the country but globally as well. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to both the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Skill Development for this historic collaboration. This partnership will play a pivotal role in empowering 10 crore Didis in rural India and in realizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’,” Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, said.

The MoU signing ceremony was also attended by several senior officials. From MSDE, Secretary, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Smt. Hena Usman, Additional Secretary, Smt. Sonal Mishra, and Director, Shri Preetam Dutta were present. Representing MoRD were Secretary, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ms. Swati Sharma, and Additional Secretary, Shri T.K. Anil Kumar. On this occasion, the new websites of the Ministry of Rural Development and the Department of Rural Development were also launched.

It is noteworthy that this partnership will not only strengthen the confidence and economic status of rural women but also give fresh impetus to the ideals of ‘Vocal for Local,’ Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and women empowerment. This initiative stands as a milestone in accelerating India’s rural economy, opening new avenues for rural women and youth, and promoting social inclusion.

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Manish Gautam/Shahbaz Hasibi

Read this release in: Hindi

Pathway Press Release