Digi Lakshmi Scheme Andhra Pradesh 2025 empowers SHG women entrepreneurs by establishing 9,034 CSC kiosks in ULBs, offering 250+ digital services with training, loans, and e-governance access.
Andhra Pradesh Launches Digi‑Lakshmi to Empower Urban Women through Digital Entrepreneurship
In a significant move toward digital empowerment and gender inclusion, the Government of Andhra Pradesh officially launched the Digi‑Lakshmi scheme on June 30, 2025, aiming to establish 9,034 Common Service Centres (CSCs) across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state
Transforming SHG Women into Digital Entrepreneurs
Under the flagship ‘One Family, One Entrepreneur’ (OF‑OE) vision, the program intends to transition Self‑Help Group (SHG) women into small business owners. These women will operate standardized ATOM Kiosks, offering around 250 G2C services such as bill payments, certificate issuance, and welfare scheme registrations
Eligibility & Capacity Building
Selected SHG women must:
- Be 21–40 years old, married, and permanent residents of the locality
- Hold a graduate degree, with at least three years of SHG membership
- Possess basic digital literacy and own a smartphone
MEPMA (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas) will provide comprehensive training, while CSC e‑Governance Services India Ltd. will conduct hands‑on mentoring on kiosk operations and software tools
Financial & Institutional Support
Each entrepreneur will receive access to collateral‑free loans of ₹2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh through SHG federations or banks. Implementation is overseen by the MA&UD Department via G.O. MS. No. 117, with MEPMA as the executing agency
Wider Impact on Urban Governance
The initiative aims to:
- Enhance accessibility to essential services at the grassroots
- Promote women-led entrepreneurship in urban areas
- Provide sustainable livelihoods to economically vulnerable women
- Reinforce digital inclusion and improve delivery of public services
Why This News Matters
Empowering Women Economically
By positioning SHG women as providers (not just beneficiaries), Digi‑Lakshmi fosters financial autonomy, enabling them to generate stable income, build business skills, and escape poverty. This aligns with the National Urban Livelihoods Mission’s objectives and boosts gender equity in urban centers.
Strengthening Digital Governance
Establishing over 9,000 CSCs in urban landscapes significantly extends digital service delivery, ensuring citizens receive essential government services locally. This supports the Digital India vision by decentralizing access and strengthening urban e‑governance frameworks.
Catalyst for Entrepreneurship
This scheme nurtures micro-entrepreneurship by offering digital literacy, business training, credit access, and market exposure. Such capacity building contributes to both local economic development and women’s self-reliance.
Replicable Model
The successful implementation of Digi‑Lakshmi could act as a prototype for other Indian states, especially for schemes targeting rural and semi-urban women’s digital inclusion.
Historical Context: From SHGs to Digital Kiosks
- SHG Movement: India’s Self‑Help Group model, initiated in the 1990s, has historically empowered rural women through collective savings, microcredit, and community support.
- e‑Governance Revolution: Since 2006, CSCs have been central to bridging the digital divide, particularly in rural areas, by delivering digitised public services.
- One Family, One Entrepreneur (OF-OE): This newer schema emphasizes household-level entrepreneurship, encouraging each family to start micro-enterprises.
- MEPMA’s Role: The urban counterpart of rural poverty eradication missions (e.g., NRLM), MEPMA plays a pivotal role in training, implementation, and financial facilitation.
Digi‑Lakshmi marries these legacies—SHG empowerment, CSC-based digital delivery, and household entrepreneurship—into a cohesive model for urban female economic engagement.
Key Takeaways from Digi‑Lakshmi
| S.No | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Launch Date & Scope: Launched on June 30, 2025, setting up 9,034 CSC kiosks across ULBs |
| 2 | Target Beneficiaries: SHG women aged 21–40, married, graduates, with ≥3 years of SHG membership |
| 3 | Service Offerings: Each kiosk (ATOM Kiosk) will provide approx. 250 G2C services, including bill payments and welfare registrations |
| 4 | Training & Support: MEPMA and CSC e-Governance India Ltd. deliver technical training; administrative oversight via MA&UD G.O. MS. No. 117 |
| 5 | Financial Aid: Access to collateral-free loans of ₹2–2.5 lakh via SHG federations and banks |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the objective of the Digi-Lakshmi scheme in Andhra Pradesh?
A1. The Digi-Lakshmi scheme aims to empower urban SHG women by turning them into digital entrepreneurs through the establishment of CSC-based ATOM Kiosks delivering government services.
Q2. Who is eligible to apply for the Digi-Lakshmi entrepreneurship opportunity?
A2. SHG women aged 21–40, married, permanent residents of the ULB area, graduates, and with at least three years of SHG membership are eligible.
Q3. How many Digi-Lakshmi ATOM Kiosks will be launched across Andhra Pradesh?
A3. A total of 9,034 ATOM Kiosks will be established across all Urban Local Bodies in the state.
Q4. What kind of services will be available at Digi-Lakshmi kiosks?
A4. Around 250 G2C services will be provided, including utility bill payments, issuing certificates, and accessing welfare schemes.
Q5. What type of financial support is provided under this scheme?
A5. Eligible women entrepreneurs will receive collateral-free loans ranging between ₹2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh through SHG federations and banks.
Q6. Who is responsible for training under this scheme?
A6. MEPMA is responsible for capacity building, while CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. will provide technical training and operational mentoring.
Q7. Under which government order was the Digi-Lakshmi scheme launched?
A7. The scheme was launched under Government Order (G.O.) MS. No. 117 by the MA&UD Department of Andhra Pradesh.
Q8. What is the full form of ATOM in the context of this scheme?
A8. While the full form is not explicitly mentioned, ATOM refers to standardized Common Service Centres for urban digital service delivery.
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