Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission Crosses Milestone with 2.40 Lakh Lakhpati Didis

A government-backed livelihood initiative in Jammu and Kashmir has supported approximately 2.40 lakh women in crossing the income threshold to become 'Lakhpati Didis'. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), members of Self-Help Groups have expanded small-scale activities into more dependable commercial ventures, impacting rural economies across the region.

Official data indicates that J&K has identified around 2.6 lakh potential beneficiaries, with the vast majority having already surpassed the ₹1 lakh annual household income mark. Much of this growth is driven by traditional rural sectors. Crop-based livelihoods and animal husbandry form the largest category, accounting for around 2.22 lakh beneficiaries, while non-farm activities such as trading, services, and manufacturing account for approximately 77,924 beneficiaries.

In Budhal, a remote mountainous block of Rajouri, Parviaz Akhtar utilized guidance and support from JKRLM to scale a small sheep-rearing and animal husbandry activity. Akhtar now earns between ₹18,000 and ₹20,000 a month, successfully crossing the annual household income threshold.

A similar transition is visible in the Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar town, where Nafiya Begum expanded dairy farming into a larger enterprise. Starting with 10 cows, Begum built a milk-processing unit in less than two years that now processes around 700 litres of milk daily, employing seven to nine people and generating an annual income of ₹9 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

In Kupwara, which records the highest number of Lakhpati Didis in J&K at around 22,000, women are building businesses around traditional skills. Nayeema from Darngmull developed a livelihood centered on Kashmiri tilla embroidery. Operating a unit that provides work to over 10 women, she earns an annual income of ₹8 lakh to ₹9 lakh.

District-wise figures show widespread participation across both remote and larger districts. Jammu follows Kupwara with about 20,000 beneficiaries, demonstrating that agriculture, livestock, and localized small businesses continue to serve as the backbone of rural economic development in the union territory.

"The transition of rural self-help groups into sustainable commercial enterprises highlights the immense economic potential within local grassroots communities. By leveraging institutional support and training, women entrepreneurs in remote areas are not only securing their household incomes but also creating local employment. This grassroots model proves that scaling traditional rural livelihoods through structured guidance can drive meaningful economic growth from the ground up." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes