Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasized that respecting women is the foundation of a nation’s development, and in this spirit, Bharat has embraced the path of women-led growth.
Addressing a public gathering after launching various schemes, including G-SAFAL and G-MAITRI in Navsari, PM Modi said, “I am the wealthiest person because my account is filled with the blessings of mothers and sisters, and these blessings continue to grow.”
“Women have been called ‘Narayani.’ Respecting women is the first step toward a nation’s development. That is why, to build a developed India and accelerate national growth, India has now taken the path of women-led development. Our government prioritizes both the dignity and convenience of women in their daily lives. We have built toilets for crores of women, enhancing their dignity, and connected crores of women to the banking system by opening bank accounts for them,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted his government’s efforts to provide Ujjwala cylinders to free women from the hardships of smoke exposure.
“Working women previously received only 12 weeks of maternity leave. Our government increased this to 26 weeks. For years, our Muslim sisters demanded the abolition of triple talaq. By enacting a law against it, our government saved the lives of lakhs of Muslim women from distress. When Article 370 was in place in Kashmir, women and daughters there were deprived of several rights. If they married someone from outside the state, they lost their right to ancestral property. After the abrogation of Article 370, women in Jammu and Kashmir now enjoy all their rights,” PM Modi said.
“Modi showed how to respect the Constitution by abrogating Article 370,” he added.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi stressed that women today are participating at the highest levels in major institutions and across various sectors.
“Since 2014, women’s participation in key positions across the country has grown significantly. After 2014, the central government appointed the highest number of women ministers. The representation of women in Parliament has also increased notably. In 2019, for the first time, 78 women MPs were elected. This time, there are also 74 women MPs,” he said.
PM Modi also noted the increasing presence of women in the judiciary.
“In district courts, women now constitute over 35 percent of the workforce. In several states, more than 50 percent of newly appointed civil judges are women. Today, India is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with women investors playing a crucial role in nearly half of these startups,” he said.
“India is reaching new heights in space science, with many major missions being led by women scientists. We take pride in the fact that India has the highest number of women pilots in the world,” PM Modi said.
(ANI)
