Changemakers who turned gamechangers: UP's SRLM trains women as local leaders to boost rural economy

Time of India

11-05-2025

LUCKNOW: It was a chilly Dec morning of 2021 when the cellphone of Priyanka Maurya, a local State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) functionary in Sultanpur, rang.It was a call from a state govt official who broke what was indeed a big news – Priyanka, a local banking correspondent Sakhi (BC-Sakhi), was adjudged the best performing worker in providing mobile banking services to the locals at the peak of the pandemic and was now scheduled to be felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'It was the biggest day of my life. Everything changed since then,' recalls a beaming Priyanka.She moves door to door to help people deposit and withdraw money from their bank accounts and subsequently submits all the records at the local Bank of Baroda branch, which acts as her centre.Priyanka's individual turnover has often ranged around Rs 2 crore per month – fetching her a commission of around Rs 50,000 per month.'This is a sizable amount that helps me support my family and makes me feel proud,' said Priyanka, who also got felicitated by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in 2022.Priyanka is not alone. UP has nearly 40,000 BC Sakhis who have carried out nearly 13.5 lakh bank transactions in the state. The transaction amount has been a whooping Rs 34,588 crore and the 'Sakhis' have earned a commission of nearly Rs 95 crore.The concept of 'Sakhi' that seeks to empower women has, in fact, many versions like Vidyut Sakhi, Samuh Sakhi, and Krishi Ajivika Sakhi.Just like BC Sakhis, Vidyut Sakhis are essentially entrusted to collect electricity bills, primarily in rural areas.Rajshree Shukla is one of them.A resident of Silauta village in Barabanki, Rajshree has been offering essential service to her community by collecting electricity bills by going door to door. In the financial year 2024-25, Rajshree collected around Rs 9 crore, which translated into a commission of over Rs 12 lakh annually.The Vidyut Sakhi initiative was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in May 2020. UP now has more than 30,000 identified Vidyut Sakhis. Over 13,900 of them have collected over Rs 1,870 crore in UP in the past four years, earning Rs 24.6 crore in commission, since the launch of the initiative.'The uniqueness of the Sakhi project is its structure. Besides being women oriented, the entire programme is internally well connected,' says Deepa Ranjan, Mission Director of the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM).The Sakhi initiative has also been tweaked to be rechristened as 'Didi'. For instance, Alpana Devi, a resident of Mandirar village in Bijnor, has been nicknamed 'Drone Didi' for her pioneering use of drone technology in rural applications, which has had a significant impact on her community.It all started in 2023 when Alpana joined a local self-help group (SHG) and got an opportunity to get trained in flying drones.Alpana used drones to increase worm productivity, monitor crop health, identify pest infestations, and assess water requirements. This technology enabled the precise application of pesticides and insecticides, reduced labour costs and environmental impact.The approach improved yields and brought about more sustainable varieties. She also applied drone technology for surveying and mapping. Creating detailed land maps helped resolve land problems and improved land management. Her work also included planning and monitoring rural infrastructure projects such as roads and irrigation systems, allowing better implementation and maintenance, according to an internal draft record of SRLM. UP SRLM cadre system identifies and trains local women to become community resource persons. These cadres mobilize rural women into SHGs, fostering collective action and financial discipline. The cadre system creates a robust network that enhances savings, access to credit, and income-generating activities, injecting vitality into the rural economyCadres provide hands-on training in skills like bookkeeping, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihood practices (for example, farming, animal husbandry, or handicrafts). This empowers rural women to diversify their income sources beyond traditional agricultureCadres such as Bank Sakhis assist SHG members in opening bank accounts, securing loans and managing funds like the revolving fund and community investment fund provided under DAY-NRLM.By linking SHGs to formal banking systems and govt schemes, the cadre system ensures a steady flow of capital into rural households, encouraging investment in micro-enterprisesThe cadre system supports women in setting up micro-enterprises by helping them develop livelihood business plans and connecting them to markets, technology, and resourcesSRLM cadres work to integrate SHGs with schemes from ministries like agriculture, animal husbandry, and micro, small & medium enterprises. This convergence amplifies the economic impact by providing rural women with assets, subsidies, and technical support, fostering a multiplier effect on rural growthThe Lakhpati Didi Initiative aims to enable SHG members to earn a sustainable annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh, transforming them into 'Lakhpati Didis'. The UP SRLM cadre system is instrumental in achieving this goalThe cadre system's efforts have a cascading effect. Empowered women reinvest their earnings into education, healthcare, and household improvements, stimulating local demand and economic activity