New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underscored that empowering women is fundamental to India’s growth, marking a profound shift in societal attitudes. Women are no longer confined to traditional roles but are now recognized as vital contributors and drivers of national progress.
To mark 11 years of the BJP-led NDA government’s tenure, a book was released highlighting its achievements in women’s empowerment. It details key initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and other programs designed to uplift women across sectors.
The book highlights a bold, inclusive, lifecycle-based approach by the government, launching targeted interventions in health, education, housing, digital access, sanitation, and financial inclusion. It declares ‘Nari Shakti’ a national mission empowering women from all walks of life—urban or rural, young or elderly—to live with dignity, safety, and self-reliance.
Historically, Indian women faced systemic barriers limiting access to education, healthcare, employment, and decision-making, especially in rural and marginalized areas. Since 2014, under PM Modi’s leadership, women have shifted from being passive beneficiaries to empowered agents of change, central to India’s development story.
Women now lead self-help groups, start businesses, break barriers in science, defense, and sports, and shape the nation’s future. The book notes that women and children make up nearly 67.7% of India’s population, making their empowerment a strategic imperative.
“Empowerment isn’t a singular event—it’s a journey,” the book states. The government has developed comprehensive policies supporting women socially, economically, politically, and legally throughout their lives. PM Modi has reiterated that a nation’s progress is tied to women’s empowerment.
Key achievements include reducing violence and discrimination against women through constitutional safeguards and landmark laws. The focus has shifted from women’s development to women-led development with programs like Mission Shakti and legislative measures such as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Women’s participation has surged in education, especially in STEM, entrepreneurship via self-help groups, and public service. Labour reforms promote safe and inclusive workplaces. Financial and social empowerment is supported through schemes like PM Awas Yojana, DAY-NRLM, and agricultural initiatives. Women now lead across sectors, including grassroots governance, defense forces, and aviation, driving inclusive and sustainable growth.
The book also highlights Mission POSHAN, India’s flagship nutrition initiative launched in 2018, which integrates nutrition, health, and community efforts to build a healthier future. With an investment exceeding ₹1.81 lakh crore, Poshan 2.0 aims to foster wellness through improved practices and stronger immunity, benefiting children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The government is upgrading 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres nationwide to deliver enhanced Early Childhood Care and Education.
Additional landmark reforms include the abolition of Triple Talaq, granting Muslim women dignity and legal protection; a proposal to raise the marriageable age for women from 18 to 21 to improve education and employment prospects; doubling maternity leave to 26 weeks, placing India among the most progressive nations in supporting working mothers; and the scrapping of Article 35A, enabling women in Jammu and Kashmir to enjoy equal property and legal rights.
The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has played a pivotal role in promoting women entrepreneurs by providing loans up to ₹20 lakh. By March 2025, over 52.5 crore loans worth ₹33.33 lakh crore were disbursed, with approximately 68% granted to women-led businesses.
The book concludes that over the past 11 years, the Modi government has transformed social welfare into a platform for leadership, dignity, and opportunity for women. India has laid the foundation for a future where women are not just participants but leaders, innovators, protectors, and entrepreneurs. From space missions to grassroots governance, Nari Shakti marches forward—stronger, freer, and more determined than ever. (ANI)
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