Vidyut Sakhi Programme | 29 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government's 'Vidyut Sakhi' programme has achieved remarkable success in revenue generation and empowering rural women, with an 11-fold increase in revenue recovery, highlighting its scalability, efficiency, and the trust and reach of Vidyut Sakhis in their communities. 

Key Points 

  • About:  The programme was launched by the state’s Rural Development Department as part of the UP State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), with the dual purpose of generating employment opportunities for rural women and filling a critical gap in the collection of electricity bills. 
    • It provides rural women (mainly from Self-Help Groups (SHGs)) with employment opportunities by engaging them in electricity bill collection duties. 
    • The initiative was particularly significant at a time when reverse migration and job losses were straining rural economies. 
  • Scale: Around 15,000 Vidyut Sakhis have been actively involved in revenue collection to date, bringing in a total of Rs 2,000 crore for the government. 
    • 30,000 women are registered with the UPSRLM under the programme. 
    • Another batch of 14,000 women was trained for deployment as Vidyut Sakhis in 2024. 
  • Benefits: Vidyut Sakhis earned about Rs 13.4 crore in commissions in the financial year 2024-25. They collected Rs 303 crore under the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, with Rs 3.5 crore in commission. 
    • A total of 438 Vidyut Sakhis achieved the status of 'Lakhpati Didi' by empowering women in SHGs to earn an annual household income of Rs 1,00,000 or more. 
  • Revenue Growth: In 2021-22, the Vidyut Sakhis generated Rs 87 crore in revenue, which surged to Rs 1,045 crore in 2024-25, marking an over 11-fold increase, and in the first quarter of 2025-26, the collection reached Rs 256 crore, with expectations to surpass the previous year's total. 

Lakhpati Didi Initiative 

  • About: A "Lakhpati Didi" is a member of an SHG who has successfully achieved an annual household income of Rupees One Lakh or more. 
    • This income is sustained across at least four agricultural seasons or business cycles, ensuring that the average monthly income exceeds Rupees Ten Thousand (Rs. 10,000). 
    • It was initiated by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), wherein each SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities coupled with value chain interventions, resulting in a sustainable income of Rs. 1,00,000 or more per year. 
  • Purpose: The initiative aims to empower women not only by improving their income but by transforming their lives through sustainable livelihood practices. 
    • These women serve as role models in their communities, demonstrating the power of effective resource management and entrepreneurship.