Maharashtra government. to set up 10 malls for Lakhpati Didis: Fadnavis

Chief Minister Fadnavis approves revised project costs and announces Umed Malls for women's self-help groups in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) approved the revised cost of several projects in the cabinet meeting and announced that, in the first phase, 10 ‘Umed Malls’ will be established in 10 districts across the state to provide a dedicated marketplace where women’s self-help groups (lakhpati Didis) can sell their products. The government aims to reach 25 lakhs of Lakpati Didis. 

Mr. Fadnavis on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) inaugurated the ‘Mahalakshmi Saras Sales’ and Exhibition – 2025, held from Feb 11 to 23rd February at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai. “Mahalakshmi Saras for the past 21 years has been successfully providing a platform to lakhpati didis. They are making quality products, but to market them is a huge task, to resolve this we plan to construct malls under the Umed mission in district council areas,” said Chief Minister Fadnavis while speaking at the event. 

Claiming that over 60 lakh families are making economic progress through Umed, Mr. Fadnavis said, “Currently over 11 lakh Lakpati Didis are in Maharashtra and plan to reach up to 25 lakh women Lakpati Didis soon. The government has introduced many schemes, including ‘Ladki Laxmi,’ ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana,’ and travel concession in ST buses.” 

In the cabinet meeting, Mr. Fadnavis three decisions, including approval of the revised cost of ₹2,599.15 crores for the Deherji Irrigation Project in Vikramgad taluka, Palghar, building a close pipe distribution system worth ₹438 crores on the current canals of the Janai Shirsaai Lift Irrigation Scheme in Daund, Baramati, and the changes in the Disaster Management Authority Rules, 2019.  

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will bear the escalated cost of the dam project. The first revised project cost worth ₹1,443.72 crores was approved in 2019, according to the Chief Minister office. Out capacity of 95.60 million cubic meters, 69.42 million cubic meters of water will be reserved for drinking purposes in the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation area, claiming to resolve drinking water issues of about 40 lakh people. 

According to the CM’s Secretariat, the canals under the Janai Shirasai Irrigation Scheme in Daund, Baramati and Purandar talukas of the Pune district have high water leakage as canals are open and 25 years old. Over 40 villages in this area are facing a shortage, the local representatives demanded a closed pipe distribution system. The new amends in the structure of the State Disaster Management Authority will allow the Deputy Chief Minister to be the ex-officio member and the Chief Minister as the Chairperson of the Authority can nominate the other ex-officio members.