Narendra Modi proudly endorses the Gujarat Model of development in almost all of his speeches. The all inclusive nature of this model of development is the reason for the rapid and consistent progress of the state since 2001.

Sakhi Mandals are women self help groups formed with an aim to provide productive employment to rural women in Gujarat.

Under the theme of Mission Mangalam in Gujarat, presently lakhs of Sakhi Mandals (Women Self Help Groups) are functioning in Gujarat. In last two and a half years, 25 lakh women in rural areas have organized themselves into 200,000 Sakhi Mandals, with a financial commitment of about US $ 4 billion promising assured livelihood to women in rural Gujarat over a period of 3–5 years.

The success stories of these Sakhi Mandals are spread from Gujarat’s Khergam Village to Dhumli Village. These groups also encourage women to opt for more rewarding ways of farming like Lily farming.

Read how Sakhi Mandals, under Mission Mangalam scheme, are empowering the #women of rural #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/ro5lqqIDHX

— RuralGujarat (@RuralGujarat) January 21, 2014

In a small village in Vadodara district in Gujarat there is one Sakhi Mandal that has 300 members now. The members get loans to buy dairy cattle. Mrs. Geeta Gohil who has studied till class seven manages the group. The cooperative dairy run by her has a turnover of Rupees 7 lakh each month.

Worth noting about these groups is that they leverage upon Vibrant Gujarat Summits. Preliminary Project Structures have been designed by Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company (GLPC) in partnership with over 40 corporates to generate over 12,00,000 livelihood over the next 3-5 years.

Sakhi Mandals are taking up economic activates, that not only offer the economic benefits, but also get rural women free from the grip of private money lenders, who charge heavy interests.