Finance
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched various developmental works in Navsari, Gujarat today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion of International Women’s Day, he expressed his gratitude for the love, affection, and blessings from the mothers, sisters, and daughters present in large numbers, extending his best wishes to all the women of the country on this special day. He added that he was blessed by Maa Ganga in the Maha Kumbh while he was blessed today in the Maha Kumbh of MatruShakti today. The Prime Minister highlighted the launch of two schemes, G-SAFAL (Gujarat scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods) and G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income), today in Gujarat. He also mentioned that funds from various schemes have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of women and congratulated everyone for this achievement.
Shri Modi mentioned that today was dedicated to women and expressed his gratitude to all and proudly stated that he considers himself the wealthiest person in the world, not in terms of money, but because of the blessings from crores of mothers, sisters, and daughters. “These blessings are my greatest strength, capital, and protective shield”, he emphasised.
Stressing the importance of respecting women, as it is the first step towards the development of society and the nation, the Prime Minister highlighted, “India is now walking the path of women-led development for the rapid progress of the country”. He remarked that the government prioritizes both respect and convenience in women’s lives. He mentioned the construction of toilets, also referred to as ‘Izzat Ghar” or “house of dignity”, for crores of women, which has increased their dignity, and the opening of bank accounts for crores of women, integrating them into the banking system. He also highlighted the provision of Ujjwala cylinders to save women from the hardships of smoke. Shri Modi noted that the government has extended maternity leave for working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. He acknowledged the demand from Muslim sisters for a law against triple talaq and stated that the government has enacted a strict law to protect the lives of lakhs of Muslim sisters. He also mentioned that when Article 370 was in effect in Jammu and Kashmir, women were deprived of many rights. If they married someone outside the state, they lost their right to ancestral property and with the removal of Article 370, women in Jammu and Kashmir have now gained their rights.
Underlining the increasing opportunities for women at various levels of society, government, and large institutions, the Prime Minister remarked, “women are excelling in every sector, be it politics, sports, judiciary, or police”. He noted that since 2014, women’s participation in important positions has increased significantly, mentioning that the central government has seen the highest number of female ministers, and the presence of women in Parliament has also risen. In 2019, 78 female MPs were elected, and in the 18th Lok Sabha, 74 female MPs are part of the House, he added. Underscoring the growing participation of women in the judiciary, with their presence in district courts exceeding 35%. In several states, over 50% of new recruits as civil judges are women, Shri Modi highlighted, “India is the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with nearly half of the startups having women in leadership roles”. He also mentioned the significant contributions of women scientists leading major space missions. He expressed pride in the fact that India has the highest number of female pilots in the world. He also acknowledged the role of women in organizing and securing the event in Navsari, with female police officers and officials managing the security arrangements. The Prime Minister shared his earlier interaction with women from self-help groups, noting their enthusiasm and confidence as a testament to the strength of India’s women. He reiterated his belief that the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be fulfilled, with women playing the most significant role in achieving this goal.
Mentioning Gujarat as a prime example of women-led development which has provided the country with a successful cooperative model, developed through the hard work and strength of women, the Prime Minister underscored the global recognition of Amul and how lakhs of women from Gujarat’s villages have turned milk production into a revolution. He added that Gujarati women have not only empowered themselves economically but also strengthened the rural economy. He also highlighted the success of Lijjat Papad, initiated by Gujarati women, which has now become a brand worth hundreds of crores.
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, during which the government implemented several initiatives for the welfare of women and girls, such as the Chiranjeevi Yojana, Beti Bachao Abhiyan, Mamta Divas, Kanya Kelavani Rath Yatra, Kunwarbai Nu Mameru, Saat Phera Samuh Lagna Yojana, and Abhayam Helpline, Shri Modi emphasized that Gujarat has demonstrated to the entire country how women’s strength can be enhanced through the right policies. He mentioned the direct transfer of funds to the accounts of women involved in dairy work, a practice that started in Gujarat and has now been extended to millions of beneficiaries across the country. He highlighted that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has curbed scams worth thousands of crores and provided assistance to the poor.
Highlighting the government’s efforts in empowering women by providing houses in their names during the reconstruction after the Bhuj earthquake, Shri Modi mentioned that the same approach is being followed in the PM-Awas Yojana, with nearly 3 crore women becoming homeowners since 2014. He remarked on the global recognition of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has brought water to villages across the country. In the past five years, piped water has reached 15.5 crore households in thousands of villages, emphasising the significant role of women’s water committees in the success of this mission. He added that this model originated in Gujarat and is now addressing the water crises nationwide.
Stressing the importance of water conservation while addressing the issue of water scarcity, the Prime Minister highlighted the nationwide campaign “Catch the Rain,” led by Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, which aims to prevent rainwater from going to waste by conserving it where it falls. He praised the efforts of the women in Navsari, who have completed over 5,000 projects, including ponds, check dams, borewell recharge, and community soak pits, to save rainwater. He mentioned that hundreds of water conservation projects are still ongoing in Navsari, with the goal of constructing 1,000 percolation pits in a single day. Shri Modi acknowledged Navsari district as one of the leading districts in Gujarat for rainwater harvesting and water conservation, extending special congratulations to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Navsari for their achievements in this area.
“The strength of Gujarat’s women and their contributions are not limited to any one sector”, said Shri Modi, mentioning that 50% of seats in Gujarat’s panchayat elections were reserved for women. He remarked that when he was sent to Delhi as the Prime Minister, he brought the same experience and commitment to the nation. He noted that the first bill passed in the new Parliament was for women’s empowerment, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, proudly mentioning that the bill was approved by the President, who comes from a humble tribal background. PM expressed his belief that the day is not far when one of the women present will become an MP or MLA and sit on such a platform.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister stated that the soul of the nation resides in rural India and added, “the soul of rural India lies in the empowerment of rural women”. He emphasized that the government has prioritized women’s rights and opportunities. He highlighted that India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy, with the foundation of this economic progress laid by millions of women like those present. He acknowledged the significant role of the rural economy and women’s self-help groups in this achievement. Shri Modi noted that over 10 crore women are running more than 90 lakh self-help groups across the country, with over 3 lakh self-help groups operating in Gujarat alone. He mentioned the government’s commitment to increasing the income of these millions of women, aiming to make them “Lakhpati Didis.” He stated that around 1.5 crore women have already become “Lakhpati Didis,” and the government aims to make a total of 3 crore women “Lakhpati Didis” in the next five years.
Mentioning that when a sister becomes a “Lakhpati Didi,” the entire family’s fortune changes, Shri Modi remarked that women involve other village women in their work, gradually transforming home-based work into an economic movement. To enhance the potential of self-help groups, the government has increased their budget fivefold over the past decade. The Prime Minister emphasized that these self-help groups are being provided with collateral-free loans of up to 20 lakh rupees. Additionally, women in self-help groups are being given opportunities to acquire new skills and connect with new technologies.
Highlighting that the women of the nation are advancing by overcoming every doubt and fear, the Prime Minister said that when the “Drone Didi” scheme was launched, many had doubts about the compatibility of modern technology like drones with rural women. However, he expressed his complete trust in the talent and dedication of his sisters and daughters. Today, the “Namo Drone Didi” campaign is bringing a new revolution in agriculture and the rural economy, leading to significant income for the women leading this change, he added. Shri Modi also highlighted that schemes like “Bank Sakhi” and “Bima Sakhi” have provided new opportunities for women in villages. To empower rural women, campaigns like “Krishi Sakhi” and “Pashu Sakhi” have been initiated, connecting lakhs of women and increasing their income. He emphasized that the government’s efforts should benefit as many women in Gujarat as possible, congratulating Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel and the Gujarat government for launching a campaign to make 10 lakh more women “Lakhpati Didis.”
Reiterating from his first address from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister, Shri Modi stressed on the importance of asking sons, not just daughters, to prevent crimes against women and build a better society. Over the past decade, the government has prioritized women’s safety, making laws stricter to prevent crimes against them, he said. He highlighted the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure swift justice for serious crimes against women, with around 800 courts approved nationwide, most of which are now operational. These courts have expedited the resolution of approximately three lakh cases related to rape and POCSO. Shri Modi emphasized that the government has introduced the provision of the death penalty for heinous crimes like rape. He also highlighted the strengthening of the 24×7 women’s helpline and the establishment of one-stop centers for women, with around 800 centers now operational across the country, providing assistance to over 10 lakh women.
“The newly implemented Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), wiping out the colonial laws, has further strengthened provisions related to women’s safety”, emphasised the Prime Minister, adding that a separate chapter has been added to address crimes against women and children. He acknowledged the common grievance that victims often face delays in justice. To address this, the Indian Penal Code now mandates that charges for heinous crimes like rape be framed within 60 days and verdicts delivered within 45 days, he added. Shri Modi emphasized that the new laws allow for e-FIRs to be filed from anywhere, making it easier for the police to take immediate action. Under the provision of Zero FIR, any woman can file an FIR at any police station if she faces atrocities. Additionally, he highlighted that the police can now record the statements of rape victims through audio-video means, which has been legally recognized. He also mentioned that the time for doctors to forward medical reports has been set to 7 days, providing significant assistance to the victims.
Underlining that the new provisions in the BNS are already showing results, Shri Modi recalled a a tragic incident in Surat district last October, where a gang rape case saw charges framed within 15 days and the culprits sentenced to life imprisonment within a few weeks. He emphasized that the implementation of the BNS has expedited the hearing of crimes against women across the country. He added that in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a court sentenced a minor’s rapist to 20 years in prison, marking the first conviction under the BNS within 30 days of filing the charge sheet. In Kolkata, a court sentenced a convict to death for raping a seven-month-old baby, with the verdict delivered within 80 days of the crime. The Prime Minister highlighted these examples from different states to demonstrate how the BNS and other government decisions have enhanced women’s safety and ensured swift justice.
Reaffirming the nation that he will not let any obstacles hinder their dreams, the Prime Minister said that just like a son serves his mother, he is serving Mother India and the mothers and daughters of India in the same way. He concluded by expressing his firm belief that the hard work, dedication, and blessings of the people will help achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and once again extended his heartfelt wishes for Women’s Day to every mother, sister, and daughter in the country.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R Patil, were present among other dignitaries at the event.
Source: PIB
