Itanagar: Over 16,000 women in Arunachal Pradesh have achieved ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status, while nearly one lakh women have been mobilised into 15,999 self-help groups (SHGs) across the state, rural development and panchayati raj minister Ojing Tasing said on Friday.Speaking at the valedictory session of the four-day zone 1 workshop on the National Supportive Supervision Strategy Framework (NSSF) at the State Banquet Hall here, Tasing said the state has also established 1,488 primary-level federations and 91 cluster-level federations (CLFs). Another 36,000 potential ‘Lakhpati Didis’ have been identified, he said.Highlighting the role of women-led institutions, Tasing said CLFs must be built on capable leadership, transparent operational systems and financial stability. He urged participating states to place community leaders at the centre of decision-making and translate field observations into concrete, measurable actions.The four-day regional event drew nearly 80 delegates, including representatives from the National Mission Management Unit, national resource persons and state mission management units representing all eight northeastern states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Amit Shukla, joint secretary (rural livelihoods-I) in the Union ministry of rural development, outlined a strategic vision to build scalable and self-reliant CLFs in the region. He set a target of creating 30 ‘Viksit CLFs’ in Zone 1 by March 2027. The initiative will follow a four-stage institutional pathway — Establish, Deepen, Sustain and Leadership — aimed at promoting long-term independence.State officials highlighted the practical impact of the NSSF framework. Rural development and panchayati raj secretary Sonal Swaroop said NSSF transitions the focus from routine compliance monitoring to capability building and community ownership — an approach critical for navigating Arunachal Pradesh’s difficult terrain.Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission CEO and State Mission director Sangeeta Yirang said institutional assessments must determine whether federations were developing true self-governance.Taniya Soki, adviser to the rural development minister, advocated for nurturing local women leaders capable of maintaining transparency and resolving community challenges.The workshop concluded with state-specific presentations and the drafting of comprehensive action plans. Participating delegates reaffirmed their commitment to shifting from supervision to community ownership, aiming to empower rural women as part of the broader ‘Viksit Bharat’ mission.
