In his video message at the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment, Indian PM Modi said that when women prosper, the world prospers.
A paradigm shift of women-led development and inclusion seems to have taken place over the last decade under the Narendra Modi government, which, apart from legislative tools, has ensured that targeted welfare schemes for women reach saturation point.
Prime Minister Modi’s arrival on the national scene in 2014 was heralded by his iconic pro-women message, “Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao.” This was quickly followed up by the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan—Swachhta for female toilets and Jal Jeevan for household tap water that provides women ease of living and gives them self-confidence and self-esteem. The Ujjwala scheme for subsidized LPG cylinders, saving over nine crore women from the misery of a smoky kitchen, was another big hit.
Under the PM Awas Yojana, more than 2.16 crore houses have been constructed out of the 2.85 crore sanctioned houses, with 69% of the ownership held solely or jointly by women. Apart from launching these schemes, the transparent manner in which beneficiaries got their entitlement—without paying bribes—impressed many.
As highlighted by PM Modi himself at the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment, the financial empowerment of women under his government has been the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, where 70% of loans have been sanctioned to women. Similarly, under Stand Up India, 80% of the beneficiaries are women taking bank loans for greenfield projects. Similarly, many of the success stories in the cooperative movement in India are women-driven.
In his video message at the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment, he said that when women prosper, the world prospers. Their economic empowerment drives development, and their access to education drives global progress. Their leadership promotes inclusivity, and their voices inspire positive change.
