By Isiaka Wakili, who was in New Delhi India, a 77-year-old independent country, is exploring its rich and diverse culture, and major developments and initiatives for global attention. This was seen during a recent eight-day familiarisation visit by 31 journalists from 10 countries in Central and West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Cote d’voire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Republic of Guinea and Togo. The tour, facilitated by the External Language Media Section of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, offered a glimpse of the Asian country’s efforts towards prosperity, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, national unity promotion and cultural preservation.
Lakhpati Didi Initiative: Grooming entrepreneurs to alleviate poverty A report by the World Bank on October 15, 2024, approximates that 120 million of the India’s 1.429 billion population are living in extreme poverty, earning below Rs181 ($2.15) daily.
However, the Indian Government is tackling poverty through a programme tagged: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) which is a flagship of the country’s Ministry of Rural Development. The initiative, which has presence in 742 districts across India, promotes sustainable livelihoods for the poor and mobilises rural women into Lakhpati Didis, otherwise known as Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The scheme provides an institutional platform for access to credit faci.