10 years of women-centric success beats 70 years of past governments, says PM Modi

PM Modi pointed to the success of the "Lakhpati Didi" initiative, which aims to ensure women earn an annual income of more than Rs 1 lakh, and described the milestone of over one crore women benefitting from the scheme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Jalgaon asserted that the women-centric policies of his administration over the past decade have far outpaced the achievements of previous governments.

"Today, I challenge you - keep the seven decades of previous governments on one side and put 10 years of the Modi government on the other scale. the amount of work that the Modi government has done for the sisters and daughters of the country, no government has done after Independence."

Prime Minister Modi praised women's empowerment through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and highlighted the remarkable progress in boosting their economic standing. He pointed to the success of the "Lakhpati Didi" initiative, which aims to ensure women earn an annual income of more than Rs 1 lakh. He described the milestone of over one crore women benefitting from the scheme. "When I visited you during the Lok Sabha elections, I promised we would make 3 crore sisters Lakhpati Didi. This means women who work in Self Help Groups, and their annual income is more than Rs 1 lakh. In the last 10 years, one crore Lakhpati Didis were made, and in just two months, 11 lakh more Lakhpati Didi were added to one crore."

PM Modi highlighted the importance of women's contributions to India's development, emphasizing their key role in achieving the country’s economic ambitions. "The women power of India has always contributed immensely in building the future of the society and the nation and today when our country is working hard to become developed, once again our women power is coming forward."

The prime minister also reflected on the challenges faced by women in the past, including a lack of property ownership and access to bank loans, which hindered their ability to start businesses. "There was no one to guarantee help for the women. Women didn't have property in their name, and if they had to take a loan from a bank, they could not avail it."

That is why this brother of yours, your son, took a vow. I decided that no matter what happens, I will reduce every difficulty faced by the mothers, sisters and daughters of my country. Therefore, the Modi government took decisions one after another in the interest of women," he said, pointing to the Modi government's policies as game-changers in improving women’s access to opportunities.