What is SHE Marts announced by Nirmala Sitharaman in Union Budget 2026?

Building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, community-owned retail shops will be set up for the women entrepreneurs from self-help groups, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday (February 1, 2026). 

Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, the Minister called it the “next step” for these self-help group (SHG) members, towards being “owners of enterprises”.

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“Building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme, I propose to help women take the next step from credit-linked livelihood to being owners of enterprises,” Ms. Sitharaman said. 

“‘Self Help Entrepreneur – SHE Marts’ will be set up as community-owned retail outlets within cluster-level federations through enhanced and innovative finance instruments,” she said.

A Lakhpati Didi is a woman member of an SHG whose annual household income reaches at least ₹1 lakh.

According to the Rural Development Ministry, over two crore women have become Lakhpati Didis so far, and the target is to have three crore women SHG members achieve ₹1 lakh annual income by 2027.