India, April 16 -- Odisha has secured the top position in India under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, the flagship programme of the Union Government that empowers rural women to earn Rs 1 lakh or more annually through sustainable livelihoods.

As of April 13, Odisha has created 14,41,074 Lakhpati Didis, completing 82 per cent of its 17.59 lakh potential Lakhpati identified and surpassing all other states.

The mission has been implemented by the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), under the Department of Mission Shakti, and aligned with the objectives of the centrally sponsored National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Through a mission-mode approach, the state has forged a powerful model of decentralised planning, local leadership, and str...