Women's safety our govt's top priority; we made strict laws to prevent crimes against them: PM Modi

Women's safety our govt's top priority; we made strict laws to prevent crimes against them: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government has made women’s safety a top priority by enacting stricter laws to prevent crimes against women, including provisions for the death penalty for those guilty of heinous crimes such as rape.

He pointed out that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the outdated Indian Penal Code, has enhanced legal protections for women, streamlined the process of filing complaints, and ensured quicker justice.

Speaking to a large crowd in Vansi Borsi village, Navsari district, Gujarat, on International Women’s Day, Modi emphasized that India is committed to women-led development, aiming for the country’s rapid progress.

"When a girl returns (home) late, her parents ask questions. But they don't do the same when a boy comes late…They should do it. In the past decade, we have given women's safety the highest priority, and in order to prevent crimes against them, we have made stricter rules and laws," the PM said.

"My government changed the law to introduce capital punishment for heinous crimes like rape," he said.

He added that to ensure timely justice in serious crimes against women, the government has set up fast-track courts, with around 800 courts approved across the country, most of which are now operational.

"The newly-implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which wiped out the colonial law, further strengthened provisions related to women's safety. A separate chapter has been added in it to address crimes against women and children in new criminal laws," he said.

Victims facing delay in justice was a common grievance earlier. But in order to address this, the new law mandates that charges in cases of heinous crimes, like rape, be framed within 60 days and verdicts delivered within 45 days, he added.

The updated laws also allow for e-FIRs to be filed from anywhere, making it easier for the police to take swift action. With the provision of zero FIR, any woman can file an FIR at any police station if she experiences atrocities, he said.

Additionally, the police are now legally allowed to record the statements of rape victims using audio-visual methods, the Prime Minister added.

"A time-frame of seven days has been fixed for doctors to forward medical reports, providing significant assistance to the victims," he said.

Noting that the new provisions in the BNS are already yielding results, Modi recalled that in a gang-rape case in Surat, charges were framed within 15 days, and the culprits received life imprisonment within a few weeks.

He added that the blessings of women are his greatest source of strength and protection.

"I am the wealthiest person in the world. My statement will raise hackles of some listeners. But I will reiterate that I am 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," Modi said.

Respecting women is the first step towards the development of society and the nation. India is now walking on the path of women-led development for the rapid progress of the country, Modi said.

"Our government places utmost importance on 'samman' (honour) and 'suvidha' (facilities) for women. We built thousands of toilets and gave dignity to women. Our government brought in stringent law against triple talaq and saved lives of lakhs of Muslim women from being destroyed," the prime minister said.

He stressed the need to empower women from rural parts.

"(Mahatma) Gandhiji used to say that the country's soul lies in its villages. I would like to add that women are the soul of our rural areas, and the soul of rural India resides in empowerment of rural women," Modi said.

He highlighted that his government has placed a strong focus on women's rights and opportunities.

Modi also pointed out that India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy, with the contributions of millions of women serving as the cornerstone of this economic growth. He recognized the significant role the rural economy has played in achieving this milestone.

"Over 10 crore women are running more than 90 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) across the country, with over 3 lakh SHGs operating in Gujarat alone. The government is committed to increasing the income of these millions of women, aiming to make them 'Lakhpati Didis'," he said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that approximately 1.5 crore women have already become 'Lakhpati Didis', and the government aims to raise this number to 3 crore women in the next five years.

The 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme, introduced by the Union government in 2023, recognizes women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who earn at least Rs 1 lakh annually from agriculture, animal husbandry, and small industries. These women are designated as 'Lakhpati Didis'.

Before speaking at the program, the Prime Minister took part in a 'prerna samvaad' session at Vansi Borsi village, where he interacted with a group of 'Lakhpati Didis' who shared their personal experiences. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Navsari MP C R Paatil were also present.

During the Navsari event, the Prime Minister distributed Rs 450 crore in financial assistance to over 2.5 lakh women from more than 25,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

To mark International Women's Day, a security detail consisting entirely of women police officers was assigned to the event.