Anita earns ₹20,000–25,000 monthly, receives over ₹7 lakh in incentives and emerges as a ‘Lakhpati Didi’
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government’s Bijli Sakhi scheme is creating new opportunities for rural women to achieve financial independence while strengthening digital services and electricity revenue collection in villages. Implemented under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the initiative has enabled women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) to earn a regular income by facilitating electricity bill payments at consumers’ doorsteps.
The success story of Anita, a 35-year-old resident of Hasanpur village in Shamli district’s Un development block, highlights the transformative impact of the initiative.
Earlier, Anita’s family faced financial difficulties as her husband operated a small electronics shop with limited earnings. In 2018, she joined the Srishti Self-Help Group under the Bharti Mahila Gram Sangathan during a Community Resource Person (CRP) campaign. With financial assistance through the Community Investment Fund, she helped expand her husband’s business, contributing to the family’s financial stability.
Her life took a significant turn in 2022 when she was selected as a Bijli Sakhi. After receiving training, she began visiting households across villages to collect electricity bills and facilitate digital payments.
Under the scheme, selected women are equipped with smartphones and Bluetooth thermal printers. Using an official application, they access consumers’ electricity bills, collect payments digitally and issue receipts.
The incentive structure provides ₹20 for every bill collection of up to ₹2,000 and one per cent of the collected amount for bills exceeding ₹2,000.
Anita has so far collected more than ₹7 crore in electricity revenue and deposited the amount with the electricity department. Since the financial year 2022–23, she has earned over ₹7 lakh in incentives. She currently earns approximately ₹20,000–25,000 every month through this work.
Her earnings have significantly improved her family’s financial condition, helping them become debt-free. Today, Anita is recognised as a ‘Lakhpati Didi’ and serves as an inspiration for women in her Gram Panchayat and neighbouring areas.
The scheme has also simplified electricity bill payments for rural consumers, who previously had to visit electricity substations to deposit their dues. Doorstep collection has reduced their travel and effort while making revenue collection more convenient and transparent.
The state government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, is promoting women’s participation in rural development through livelihood opportunities and digital service delivery.
Anita’s journey demonstrates how institutional support, training and access to income-generating opportunities can transform rural women into financially independent individuals while enabling them to contribute to essential public services.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
