JULY 26: Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced the historic launch of the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’, calling it a significant step in advancing both women’s empowerment and social security under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The scheme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), aimed at realizing the Government of India’s ambitious goal of ‘Insurance for All by 2047.’ Under this initiative, trained members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be appointed as Bima Sakhis at the Gram Panchayat level to provide grassroots insurance facilitation.
Calling the initiative a “powerful example of social change,” Shri Chouhan said, “Bima Sakhis are not just insurance agents; they are torchbearers of financial literacy, inclusion, and resilience in rural India.”
The scheme aligns closely with other government priorities such as Digital India, Jan-Dhan Se Jan Suraksha, and women’s skill development. It also supports the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and boosts the central government’s flagship Lakhpati Didi Mission, which aims to create 2 crore women earning over ₹1 lakh annually by 15 August 2025.
By equipping rural women with training and tools to deliver insurance services, the scheme promotes financial independence, entrepreneurship, and local employment generation. These trained Bima Sakhis will act as the trusted point of contact for villagers, enabling last-mile delivery of various government insurance schemes and disaster protection benefits.
“This scheme adds a new chapter to rural employment,” Shri Chouhan said, highlighting how it empowers women while building economic resilience in semi-urban and rural communities.
He emphasized that the Bima Sakhi Yojana represents more than financial inclusion—it is a transformational movement. It ensures that women from the heart of rural India become the driving force behind secure and economically stable communities.
In his concluding remarks, the Union Minister urged all state governments and partner organizations to scale up the initiative nationwide. “Let us take the Bima Sakhi Yojana to every village and household, and build a resilient, inclusive, and insured India,” he said.