Dhami government to launch 'Jalsakhi' for rural drinking water supply after 'Lakhpati Didi', another game-changing initiative for women's economic empowerment

Under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is set to launch a new game-changing initiative named Jalsakhi to enhance the livelihoods of rural women. This follows the successful ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme launched in 2022, which has helped over 1.63 lakh women in Uttarakhand achieve an annual income of over ₹1 lakh.

As part of this new initiative, women self-help groups (SHGs) will be entrusted with the responsibility of billing and supply of drinking water in rural areas. The Har Ghar Nal (tap water to every household) scheme is nearing its target in Uttarakhand, and the Drinking Water Department is now planning to involve women SHGs in tasks like providing new connections, bill distribution and correction, revenue collection, and maintenance of water schemes—on an outsourced basis.

Additionally, these groups will be provided with kits to test water quality, and they will also report any faults in water supply schemes. Selected groups will be trained as Nal Jal Mitras (Tap Water Friends). As part of the pilot project, women SHGs will receive an incentive of ₹10 per bill and a fixed share of the revenue. This will offer additional employment opportunities to rural women right at their doorstep.

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Lakhpati Didi Scheme

Launched in 2022, the Lakhpati Didi scheme aims to raise the annual income of 5.07 lakh women associated with SHGs to over ₹1 lakh. Women are being trained in agriculture, horticulture, dairy production, tailoring, embroidery, LPG distribution, basic veterinary services, insurance schemes, and digital transactions to enhance their livelihoods. Within just three years, 1.63 lakh women have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Encouraged by this success, the government now targets to make 3 lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by the end of the current financial year.

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Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana

To further boost the livelihoods of women groups, the government launched the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana in August 2023. Currently, over 30,000 women in the state are benefiting from the scheme, and women SHGs have so far done business worth ₹4.93 crore under this initiative. The goal is to provide a wider market for the products made by women’s groups.

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House of Himalayas

To promote traditional handicrafts, handloom products, organic farming goods, and herbs of Uttarakhand, the state government launched a unified brand named House of Himalayas in December 2023. The brand was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, giving it national and international visibility. The brand includes 36 products, 12 of which have already received GI (Geographical Indication) tags, verifying their authenticity and regional identity. Currently, 11 stalls of House of Himalayas have been set up at state airports, helipads, and major hotels. These products are also being sold through various e-commerce platforms.

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“The government is committed to empowering women in every way. Women SHGs are being linked to various economic activities. In this sequence, we are now working to increase women’s participation in drinking water supply too. This scheme could prove to be a game changer for improving women’s financial condition.”
— Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand