New Delhi, Jan 08 : The Rural Development Ministry and the Department of Posts on Tuesday signed two significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen financial services, logistics, and market access for rural India.
The first MoU formalises the convergence between the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and India Post’s extensive network of over 1.5 lakh rural post offices, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), and Dak Sevaks. This partnership will deliver integrated financial and logistics services to self-help groups (SHGs), women entrepreneurs, rural enterprises, and MSMEs, promoting adoption of savings, deposits, insurance, and pension products among SHG households.
Addressing the event, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the success of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, under which over 2.82 crore women SHG members are earning more than Rs 1 lakh annually. “With India Post, banking facilities will reach every village and home, creating new opportunities for rural women,” he said.
The second MoU focuses on improving the testing of pesticide samples. Speaking on the initiative, Chouhan emphasised the need to tackle poor-quality pesticides, a major concern for farmers, and outlined plans for a forthcoming Pesticide Act that will impose stringent penalties for selling substandard products. “No one will be able to tamper with pesticide samples after this MoU, and testing will be faster and more reliable,” he added.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted India Post’s extensive rural presence, noting that the new system will track pesticide samples with QR codes, maintain proper storage conditions, and ensure testing is completed within 48–72 hours. He also said the initiative will further empower ‘Lakhpati Didis’, providing them with tablets, point-of-sale machines, certification, and income opportunities ranging from Rs 15,000–30,000 per month.
The Rural Development Ministry said the partnership is expected to enhance financial inclusion, improve market access, and create sustainable livelihoods for rural women and entrepreneurs, contributing to the government’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. The initiative will support SHG members as business correspondents, offering training, certification, technology enabled monitoring, and customised insurance solutions.
India Post will also integrate women led SHG enterprises into its logistics network, providing packaging, documentation, export facilitation through Dak Niryat Kendras, and promotional support for rural products nationwide.