The second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024 at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. In his address, the Raksha Mantri exuded confidence that ‘Arighaat’ will further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, help in establishing strategic balance & peace in the region, and play a decisive role in the security of the country. He described it as an achievement for the nation and a testament to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s unwavering resolve to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.

Shri Rajnath Singh commended the Indian Navy, DRDO & the Industry for their hard work and synergy in achieving this capability. He termed this self-reliance as the foundation of self power. He appreciated the fact that the country’s industrial sector, especially MSMEs, have received a huge boost through this project, and more employment opportunities have been created.

Recalling former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s political will which put India at par with a nuclear weapon state, the Raksha Mantri said, “Today, India is surging ahead to become a developed country. It is essential for us to develop rapidly in every field, including defence, especially in today’s geopolitical scenario. Along with economic prosperity, we need a strong military. Our government is working on mission mode to ensure that our soldiers possess top-quality weapons and platforms made on Indian soil” .

The construction of INS Arighaat involved the use of advanced design and manufacturing technology, detailed research & development, utilisation of special materials, complex engineering and highly skilled workmanship. It has the distinction of having the indigenous systems and equipment which were conceptualised, designed, manufactured & integrated by the Indian scientists, industry and Naval personnel.

The technological advancements undertaken indigenously on this submarine make it significantly more advanced than its predecessor Arihant. The presence of both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat will enhance India’s capability to deter potential adversaries and safeguard its national interests.

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted saplings today at IARI Campus PUSA as a part of the campaign #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम #Plant4Mother campaign. Shri Chouhan informed that the Ministry will set up “Matri Van” in about 1 acre of land. Minister of State Shri Ramnath Thakur, Secretary DARE & DG ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, around 200 officers/staffs of the Ministry of Agriculture &Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development and School students were also present in the event. Minister informed that all subordinate offices of DA&FW, ICAR institutions, CAUs, KVKs and SAUs in the country are also organized a similar tree plantation program at their respective places at same time. Shri Chouhan also informed that today, over 800 institutions under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare participated, and it is expected that between 3000-4000 saplings were planted during the event.

Union Minister said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Global Campaign #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम #Plant4Mother on the occasion of World Environment Day, on 5^th June 2024 and to ensure the Prime Minister resolution our Ministries today started #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम #Plant4Mother campaign as a mass movement. Shri Chouhan requested to all officers/ employees and the school student present during the occasion to participating in the movement and to pay their respect to their mother and mother earth by planting trees.

As part of the Global Campaign, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change are being made efforts to ensure that 80 crore saplings are planted across the country by September 2024 and 140 crore saplings by March 2025. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change started the tree plantation activity at Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary on June 20, 2024, wherein individuals planted trees in honour of their mothers. Planting trees also fulfills Mission LiFE purpose launched by the Government which is a mass movement of Environmental Conscious Lifestyle. In agriculture, growing trees is an important step to achieve sustainable farming. Trees help to improve farm productivity by improving the soil, water quality and increase biodiversity. Trees also provide additional income source for the famers from the timber and non-timber produces. The Campaign has immense potential for preventing and reversing land degradation and desertification.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched “Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training” (RESET) Programme on the occasion of National Sports Day in New Delhi today.

Speaking about the RESET Programme, Dr. Mandaviya said, “RESET Programme is aimed at empowering our retired sportspersons who have played for the country and brought immense laurels to the nation. The programme will support retired athletes on their career development journey by empowering them with the necessary knowledge and skills and making them more employable.”

He mentioned that RESET programme will bridge the gap between generations, allowing the unique skills of our retired athletes to benefit the new generation of aspiring athletes. Their rich experience will serve as a foundation for nurturing future champions, contributing to the growth of sports in India and fostering nation-building, he added.

Union Minister urged all retired sportspersons to apply for this initiative and actively contribute to the country’s sports ecosystem. He mentioned that Government is committed to supporting our retired sportspersons in every possible way.

RESET Programme represents a significant step towards recognizing and utilizing the invaluable experience and expertise of our retired athletes.

The athletes, who have retired from an active sports career and are aged between 20-50 years and who have been winners of an International Medal/participants in international events or have been National medallists/State medallists/participants in competitions recognized by National Sports Federations/Indian Olympic Association/Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are eligible to apply for courses under RESET Programme. The applications will be invited through a dedicated portal.

Initially, the programmes will be of two levels based on educational qualifications viz., Class 12^th and above and Class 11^th and below.

For this pilot phase of the RESET Programme, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) will be the lead institute to implement the Programme.

The programme will be offered in hybrid mode consisting of self-paced learning through a dedicated portal, along with on-ground training and internship.

Internships will be provided in sports organizations, sporting competitions/training camps, and leagues. Further, placement assistance, guidance for entrepreneurial ventures, etc. will be provided upon successful completion of the course.

The registration process will start today on the portal https://lnipe.edu.in/resetprogram/. The course will start after due evaluation for which the participants will be intimated.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier today chaired the meeting of the 44th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Centre and State governments. This was the first meeting in the third term.

In the meeting, seven significant projects were reviewed, which included two projects relating to road connectivity, two rail projects and one project each of the Coal, Power and Water Resources sectors. The cost of these projects totalled more than Rs. 76,500 crore and relate to 11 States and UTs viz., Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.

Prime Minister emphasized the fact that every official in the government, at Central or State level, must be sensitized about the fact that delay in projects not only leads to cost escalation but also deprives the public of the intended benefits of the project.

Prime Minister said that the “Ek ped Maa ke Naam” campaign can help safeguard the environment while undertaking project development.

During the interaction, Prime Minister also reviewed AMRUT 2.0 and public grievances related to Jal Jeevan Mission. These projects together inter-alia address water issues in urban and rural areas. Prime Minister emphasised that water is a basic human need and quality disposal of grievances at district level as well as state level must be ensured by the state governments. Adequate Operation and Maintenance mechanism of Jal Jeevan projects is critical for its success and Prime Minister suggested involvement of women self help groups where possible and skilling of youth in Operation and Maintenance works. The Prime Minister reiterated conduct of the Water Resource Survey at district level and emphasised source sustainability.

Prime Minister advised Chief Secretaries to personally monitor the works under AMRUT 2.0 and States should make plans keeping in mind the growth potential and future needs of cities. He said that while making drinking water plans for cities, peri-urban areas should also be kept in mind because with time these areas also get incorporated into the city limits. Reforms in urban governance, comprehensive urban planning, urban transport planning, and municipal finance are critical needs of the hour, given the rapid urbanization in the country. He added that one needs to take benefit of initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to meet the growing energy needs of cities. Prime Minister also recalled that many of these aspects of urbanization and drinking water had been discussed in the Chief Secretaries Conference and the commitments given must be reviewed by Chief Secretaries themselves.

Prime Minister further asked the Chief Secretaries and Secretaries of Government of India to continue working on the Mission Amrit Sarovar programme. He said that water catchment area of Amrit Sarovars should be kept clean and desilting of these water bodies should be taken up as per requirement with the involvement of Village Committee.

Up to the 44th edition of PRAGATI meetings, 355 projects having a total cost of Rs. 18.12 lakh crore have been reviewed.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today marked the 10th anniversary of Jan Dhan Yojana, celebrating its significant impact on financial inclusion. The Prime Minister also congratulated all beneficiaries and thanked those who made this yojana a success. Shri Modi said that Jan Dhan Yojana has been paramount in boosting financial inclusion and giving dignity to crores of people, especially women, youth, and the marginalized communities.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“Today, we mark a momentous occasion— #10YearsOfJanDhan. Congratulations to all the beneficiaries and compliments to all those who worked to make this scheme a success. Jan Dhan Yojana has been paramount in boosting financial inclusion and giving dignity to crores of people, especially women, youth, and the marginalized communities.”

“आज देश के लिए एक ऐतिहासिक दिन है- #10YearsOfJanDhan. इस अवसर पर मैं सभी लाभार्थियों को शुभकामनाएं देता हूं। इस योजना को सफल बनाने के लिए दिन-रात एक करने वाले सभी लोगों को भी बहुत-बहुत बधाई। जन धन योजना करोड़ों देशवासियों, विशेषकर हमारे गरीब भाई-बहनों को आर्थिक रूप से सशक्त बनाने और उन्हें सम्मान के साथ जीवन जीने का अवसर देने में सफल रही है।”

PM pens a LinkedIn post highlighting the transformative outcomes of Jan Dhan Yojana

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today penned a post on social media platform LinkedIn, marking 10 years of Jan Dhan Yojana.

The post titled ‘A Decade of Financial Inclusion – the PM Jan Dhan Yojana’ highlights the transformative outcomes of this initiative.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Jan Dhan Yojana is about dignity, empowerment and opportunity. Today, when we mark #10YearsOfJanDhan, sharing a post I wrote on @LinkedIn highlighting the transformative outcomes of this initiative.”

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for conduct of 3rd batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities with estimated reserve price of Rs.784.87 crore under Private FM Radio Phase Ill Policy.

State-wise list of the cities / towns and the number of Private FM channels approved for fresh auctions is enclosed as Annexure.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal to charge Annual License Fee (ALF) of FM channel as 4% of Gross Revenue excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST). This will be applicable for 234 new cities / towns.

The Private FM Radio rollout in 234 new cities / towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these cities / towns, which still remain uncovered by Private FM radio broadcasting and bring new / local content in mother tongue.

It will lead to creation of new employment opportunities, boost to local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives.

Many of the approved cities / towns are in Aspirational districts and LWE affected areas.  Setting up of Private FM Radio in these areas will further strengthen Government outreach in these areas.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the progressive expansion in Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ to make it more attractive, impactful and inclusive.

In a significant move to enhance and strengthen the agricultural infrastructure in the country and support the farming community, the Government has announced a series of measures to expand the scope of Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. These initiatives aim at expanding the scope of eligible projects and integrate additional supportive measures to foster a robust agricultural infrastructure ecosystem.

Viable Farming Assets: To allow all eligible beneficiaries of scheme for creation of infrastructure covered under ‘viable projects for building community farming assets’. This move is expected to facilitate the development of viable projects that will enhance community farming capabilities, thereby improving productivity and sustainability in the sector.

Integrated Processing projects: To include integrated primary secondary processing projects in list of eligible activities under AIF. However standalone secondary projects would not be eligible and would be covered under MoFPI schemes.

PM KUSUM Component-A: To allow convergence of Component-A of PM-KUSUM with AIF for farmer/group of farmers/ Farmer Producer Organizations/ Cooperatives/ Panchayats. The alignment of these initiatives aims to promote sustainable clean energy solutions alongside the development of agricultural infrastructure.

NABSanrakshan: In addition to CGTMSE, it is proposed to extend AIF credit guarantee coverage of FPOs through the NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Pvt. Ltd. also. This expansion of credit guarantee options is intended to enhance the financial security and creditworthiness of FPOs, thereby encouraging more investments in agricultural infrastructure projects.

Since its launch by the Prime Minister in 2020, AIF has been instrumental in supporting creation of 6623 warehouses, 688 cold stores and 21 silos projects, resulting in additional storage capacity of about 500 LMT in the country. This includes 465 LMT of dry storage and 35 LMT of cold storage capacity. With this additional storage capacity 18.6 LMT of food grains and 3.44 LMT of horticulture produce can be saved annually. Rs. 47,575 Crore has been sanctioned for 74,508 projects under AIF till date. These sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs 78,596 Crore in agriculture sector, out of which Rs.78,433 Crore has been mobilised from private entities. In addition, infrastructure projects sanctioned under AIF have helped in generating more than 8.19 Lakh rural employment opportunities in the agriculture sector.

The expansion in the scope of AIF scheme is poised to further drive the growth, improve productivity, enhance farm incomes and contribute to the overall sustainability of agriculture in the country. These measures also underscore the Government’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector through holistic development of farm infrastructure in the country.

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), one of the most transformative initiatives in India’s financial history, today celebrates its 10th anniversary. Launched in 2014 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme has become a global benchmark for financial inclusion, bringing banking services to the doorstep of every Indian, including those in the most remote corners of the country.

In a media interaction with IANS News, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, lauded the scheme as a “role model of the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership.” The decision to launch this revolutionary scheme was taken within months of PM Modi assuming office, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusive growth.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that the PMJDY’s success was vindicated during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the scheme played a crucial role in preventing starvation in nearly 80 crore households by facilitating seamless direct benefit transfers.

“PMJDY has truly been a game-changer in ensuring financial inclusion. says Dr. Jitendra Singh. Recalling the features of the scheme he said it offered zero balance account, RuPay Card free of cost, Accidental insurance of Rs. 2 lakhs on RuPay Debit Card along with overdraft facility of 10 thousand rupees to eligible account holders.

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the scheme’s socio-economic impact, stating “PMJDY has empowered women in every household, he shared that Over 55.6% of Jan dhan Account holders are women. He gave the credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked him for such a decisive step. He said it ensured the timely disbursal of PM-Kisan instalments, and eliminated leakages and pilferages, marking it as one of the biggest financial reforms in India’s history.” He further noted that the initiative has linked each person in the family to formal banking, thereby bringing India on par with global standards of financial inclusion.

The Minister also pointed out that the scheme has fueled the aspirations of common citizens, making banking a familiar and accessible part of daily life. “Once upon a time, banks were unfamiliar to many; today, no one remains untouched. PMJDY has not just globalized banking in India, but it has also sparked the aspirations of the common citizen,” Dr. Jitendra Singh added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said “As the Jan Dhan Yojana completes a decade, it stands as a milestone in India’s journey toward economic empowerment.” He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment in continuing this trajectory of inclusive growth, with many more such reforms on the horizon.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from the President of the U.S.A., H.E. Mr. Joseph R. Biden.

PM conveyed his appreciation for President Biden’s deep commitment the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared values of democracy, rule of law and strong people-to-people ties.

The leaders reviewed the significant progress in bilateral relations and highlighted that India-US partnership is aimed at benefiting the people of both countries as well as the entire humanity.

The two leaders had a detailed exchange of views on a number of regional and global issues.

While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM Modi briefed President Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine. He reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for early return of peace and stability.

The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the cooperation in multilateral fora, including the Quad.

They agreed to remain in touch.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami.

In a X post, the Prime Minister said;

“आप सभी को जन्माष्टमी की अनंत शुभकामनाएं। जय श्रीकृष्ण!”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the concluding ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan today. He also inaugurated the Rajasthan High Court Museum.

The Prime Minister began his address by regretting the inconvenience caused due to the delay in arriving at the venue owing to poor weather conditions during his departure from Maharashtra. He expressed happiness in becoming a part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court and said that the Rajasthan High Court is completing 75 years at a time when the Constitution of India is about to complete its 75 years. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, it is an occasion to celebrate the justice, integrity and dedication of many great personalities. “Today’s event is an example of the nation’s belief towards the Constitution”, the Prime Minister remarked, as he congratulated all flag bearers of justice and the people of Rajasthan on the occasion.

The Prime Minister underlined that the existence of the Rajasthan High Court is related to the history of India’s unity. Recalling the efforts of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to bring together more than 500 states and weave it in a single thread of unity to form India, the Prime Minister pointed out that the various princely states of Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Kota had their own high courts which were integrated to bring the Rajasthan High Court into existence. “National unity is the foundational stone of India’s judicial system and strengthening it will further strengthen the nation and its systems”, Shri Modi remarked.

The Prime Minister remarked that Justice is simple and lucid, however, at times the procedures make it complex. Shri Modi added that it is our collective responsibility to make all efforts to make Justice as simple and lucid as possible. He expressed happiness that India had taken multiple historic and crucial efforts in this direction. He further added that the Government had repealed many irrelevant colonial laws.

Shri Modi noted that India, after decades of independence, emerging out of the colonial mindset had adopted the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the Indian Penal Code. He added that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was based on the ideals of ‘Justice in place of Punishment’ which is also the basis of Indian thought. Shri Modi expressed confidence that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will advance human thought and free us from the colonial mindset. He added, “It is now our responsibility to make the spirit of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as effective as possible.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the nation has rapidly transformed in the past decade as he mentioned India’s rise to the 5th largest economy in the world from the 10th position. “Today, India’s dreams are big and the citizen’s aspirations are high”, PM Modi said underlining the need for new innovations and modernization of systems according to the needs of new India. He further added that it is equally important for achieving ‘Justice for All’. The Prime Minister highlighted the important role of technology in revolutionizing India’s judicial system and gave the example of the ‘E-Courts’ project. He informed that more than 18,000 courts in the country have been computerized so far and information pertaining to more than 26 crore court matters has been made available on a centralized online platform through the National Judicial Data Grid. Shri Modi informed that more than 3000 court complexes and more than 1200 prisons have been connected to video conferencing facilities. He also expressed happiness with the pace of work carried out by Rajasthan in this direction where hundreds of courts have been computerized giving way to paperless courts, e-filing, electronic summon service and facilities for virtual hearing. Pointing out the slow-moving processes of courts that existed in the past, the Prime Minister stated that the impactful steps taken by the nation to reduce the burden on common citizens have given new hope to justice in India. The Prime Minister exhorted to maintain this newfound hope by continuously reforming the nation’s judicial system

The Prime Minister remarked that he had continuously mentioned the centuries-old system of our Mediation process on many occasions in the past. He emphasized that the “Alternate Dispute Resolution” mechanism has become an important way for cost-effective and quick decisions in the country today. He added that this system of Alternative Dispute Mechanism will promote Ease of Living as well as Ease of Justice in the country. The Prime Minister underlined that the Government had taken several steps in this direction by amending laws and adding new provisions. Shri Modi expressed hope that with the support of the judiciary, these systems will become more robust.

“Judiciary has consistently carried the moral responsibility of being vigilant and active on national issues”, the Prime Minister remarked. He said that the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir presents a perfect example of India’s integration. He also mentioned the humanitarian law of CAA and said that the court’s decisions have clarified their stand on natural justice. Prime Minister Shri Modi underlined that the Supreme Court and the High Courts have strengthened the resolve of ‘nation first’. Referring to the Secular Civil Code as mentioned by the Prime Minister during his address from the Red Fort, he said even though the present government has raised the matter now, India’s judiciary has always advocated in its favour. He said that the Court’s stand on matters of national unity instil confidence in the citizens.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the word ‘integration’ is going to play a major role in 21st-century India. “Integration of modes of transport, data, health system – Our vision is that all the IT systems of the country which are working separately should be integrated. Police, forensics, process service mechanisms. The Supreme Court of India to district courts, all should work together”, the Prime Minister exclaimed. He also conveyed his best wishes for the integration project that has been initiated in all the district courts of Rajasthan today.

The Prime Minister remarked that the use of technology is becoming a tried and tested formula for the empowerment of the poor in today’s India. He added that India has received praise from many global agencies and organizations in the last 10 years. Shri Modi emphasized how India works in many areas, from DBT to UPI, and has emerged as a global model. He further added that the same experience should be implemented in the justice system as well. Shri Modi noted that in this direction, technology and access to legal documents in one’s own language will become the most effective means of empowering the poor. He added that the government is also promoting an innovative solution called Disha, and invited law students and other legal experts to help in this campaign. The Prime Minister also emphasized that there is work to be done in making legal documents and judgments available to people in local languages. He further added that the Supreme Court of India had already started this with the help of a software where judicial documents can be translated into 18 languages. Shri Modi appreciated all the unique efforts undertaken by the judiciary.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the courts will continue to give top priority to Ease of Justice. “It is very important that simple, accessible and easy justice is guaranteed for everyone in Viksit Bharat”, Shri Modi concluded

Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Minister for Law & Justice (Independent Charge), Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Justice of Supreme Court of India, Justice Sanjeev Khanna, and Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Jalgaon, Maharashtra today. He handed out certificates and felicitated 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis who recently became Lakhpati during the third term of the present government. The Prime Minister also interacted with Lakhpati Didis from across the country. Shri Modi released a Revolving Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, benefiting about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHG). He also disbursed bank loans of Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs. Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yoajna, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis and the government has set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis.

The Prime Minister began his address by expressing gratitude towards the huge crowd of mothers and sisters who were present on the occasion. Before moving further, the Prime Minister paid condolences to the victims of the bus accident tragedy in Tanahun, Nepal where several people from Jalgaon lost their lives. He informed that the authorities contacted their Nepalese counterparts as soon as the mishap took place and Union Minister Rakshatai Khadse was sent to Nepal. He said that the mortal remains of the deceased have been brought by special Air Force aircraft and those injured are being looked after. He prayed for their speedy recovery and assured all possible assistance from the Central and State Governments.

Expressing happiness over the attendance of a huge crowd of mothers and sisters at the mega event of Lakhpati Didi Sammelan, Shri Modi said, “Today, funds of more than Rs 6000 Crore were disbursed for lakhs of Women SHGs spanning across India”. He added that this corpus of funds will bolster many women to transform into ‘Lakhpati Didis’.  The PM also extended his best wishes.

Prime Minister Shri Modi underlined that the mothers and sisters of Maharashtra give a glimpse of the glorious culture and traditions of the state. “Traditions of Maharashtra are known not only in India but around the world”, the Prime Minister remarked. He mentioned witnessing the culture of Maharashtra during his recent visit to Poland and said that the people of Maharashtra are highly respected by Polish citizens. He spoke about the Kolhapur Memorial that is dedicated to the spirit of service and hospitality of the people of Kolhapur by the people of Poland. Recalling the era of World War II when thousands of women and children from Poland were given refuge by the royal family of Kolhapur by following the traditions laid down by Shivaji Maharaj, the Prime Minister expressed pride when such tales of valor were narrated to him during his visit to the nation. He exhorted the citizens to follow a similar path and make continuous efforts to raise the state’s name in the world.

Shri Modi remarked that the culture of Maharashtra is a creation of the brave and courageous women of that land. He added that the entire India has been inspired by ‘Matrushakthi’ of Maharashtra. The Prime Minister said, “Our Jalgaon is a shrine of Varkari tradition. This is the land of the great saint Muktai.” He added that her achievements and penance were an inspiration for today’s generation as well.

Shri Modi remarked that even till date, the poems of Bahinabai compel society to think beyond stereotypes. “Be it any corner of Maharashtra, be it any period of history, the contribution of Matrushakti has been unmatched”, the Prime Minister added. Further elaborating on the Matrushakti of Maharashtra, Shri Modi said that while Mata Jijabai gave a direction to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s life, another Marathi woman Savitribai Phule was the force behind the education of daughters and their work, when it was not given importance in the society.

The Prime Minister noted that women power of India has always contributed to building the future of the society and the nation. “Today when India is striving to become developed, our women power is once again coming forward,” emphasized Shri Modi. Lauding the women of Maharashtra for their efforts, Shri Modi said “I see the impression of Rajmata Jijabai and Savitribai Phule in all of you.”

Recalling his visit to Maharashtra during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when the Prime Minister had expressed the desire to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, Shri Modi informed that 1 crore Lakhpati Didis were made during the last 10 years, while 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis were created in the past two months alone. “1 lakh Lakhpati Didis were made in Maharashtra also”, he said. The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the state government and underlined that the entire team of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers have come together to empower and strengthen the women in Maharashtra by initiating multiple new schemes and programs.

Underlining that the Lakhpati Didi campaign is not just a way to boost the income of mothers and sisters but a mega campaign to strengthen the family and future generations, the Prime Minister said that it is transforming the rural economy. “Every woman present here knows that her social position in society is elevated when she starts to make a living”, the Prime Minister exclaimed, noting that the purchasing power of a family also goes up with an increase in income. “Fortunes of an entire family are transformed when one sister becomes Lakhpati Didi”, he added.

Noting the contributions of women today in making India the third-largest economy in the world, Prime Minister Modi pointed out the neglect towards the development of women in the past. He mentioned that crores of women in the country did not own any property which caused a major hindrance in availing bank loans to start small businesses. “Therefore”, the Prime Minister said, “I pledged to reduce the burden on women, and the Modi Government took decisions in the interest of women one after the other.” Drawing parallels from the 10 years of the present government with the seven decades of previous governments, the Prime Minister remarked that the present government did more work in the interest of women than any other previous governments of the past.

The Prime Minister underlined that his government had decided to register the houses for the poor in the name of the woman of the house. Shri Modi emphasized that most of the 4 crore houses built so far have been registered under the name of women. The Prime Minister assured that even in the upcoming 3 crore houses being built, most of them will be registered in the name of women.

Emphasizing the reforms undertaken in the banking sector, Shri Modi said that even in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, most bank accounts were opened in the name of women. He emphasized that about 70 percent of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Manti Mudra Yojana are mothers and sisters of the nation.

Recalling how he was warned against giving loans to women in the past, Shri Modi said that he had complete trust in the Matrushakti and that they would return the loans honestly without fail. Buoyed by the response of women, he added that his government had increased the loan limit of PM Mudra Yojana to Rs 20 lakh.

Speaking on the Swanidhi scheme launched for street vendors, the Prime Minister underlined that even in Swanidhi, loans were being given without guarantee, whose benefits had reached the women-folk. Shri Modi added that his government had extended benefits without guarantee to many women of the  Vishwakarma families, who are doing handicrafts.

The Prime Minister remarked that the importance of Sakhi Mandalis and women’s self-help groups was not recognized earlier, while today they are on the path to becoming a huge power in India’s economy. He highlighted that every village and tribal region is witnessing positive changes brought by women’s self-help groups. He informed that ten crore women have joined the campaign in the last ten years and they have been made a part of the banking system for easy facilitation of low-interest loans. He informed that bank loans worth less than Rs 25,000 crore were sanctioned for self-help groups in 2014, while today that number has risen to  Rs  9 lakh crore in the last 10 years. He further added that the direct assistance provided by the government has also been increased by almost 30 times.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the roles of mothers and sisters are being elaborated today. He gave examples of more than 1.25 lakh bank sakhis providing banking services in every village, women becoming drone pilots to assist in modern farming with drones, and training 2 lakh pashu sakhis to help the livestock farmers. The Prime Minister also mentioned initiating the Krishi Sakhi program to give leadership to Narishakti for modern farming and natural farming. He said that the government is going to create lakhs of such Krishi Sakhis in every village of the country in the coming times. The Prime Minister said that these campaigns will employ daughters while also boosting their confidence. “A new thinking will be created in the society regarding the strength of daughters”, Shri Modi added.

Reflecting on the Union Budget that was passed by the House last month, the Prime Minister informed that Rs 3 lakh crore have been allocated for schemes related to women. He mentioned the decisions taken to create specialized facilities for women working in factories and offices such as working women hostels and creche facilities for children. He underlined that the government is working towards opening all sectors for women which were once restricted for them and gave examples of women officers in all three armed forces including fighter pilots, admission into Sainik schools and academies and increasing number of women in the police force and paramilitary force.  The Prime Minister mentioned that a large number of women are managing businesses ranging from the agriculture and dairy sector in villages to the start-up revolution. He also touched upon Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam to increase the participation of daughters in politics.

The Prime Minister noted that safety of the women is a top priority of the nation along with their empowerment. Shri Modi added, “I understand the pain and anger of my sisters and daughters, irrespective of the states.” Taking a tough stand, the Prime Minister reminded all the state governments and the political parties of the country that atrocities against women are an unpardonable sin and the guilty and his accomplice must not be spared.

The Prime Minister remarked that public institutions, be it a hospital or a school or an office or the police system, should be made accountable and any sort of negligence on their part was unacceptable. Shri Modi said, “Governments may change, but our biggest responsibility as a society and as a government should be to protect the life and dignity of women.”

The Prime Minister underlined that the government is constantly making laws stricter to give the harshest punishment to those who commit atrocities on women. Pointing out that FIRs for complaints were not registered on time earlier and cases became very time-consuming, the Prime Minister said that such obstacles have been removed in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) where an entire chapter has been made on atrocities against women and children. He informed that victims can register e-FIR if they do not wish to go to the police station and measures are in place to ensure swift action and no tampering with e-FIR at the police station level. He said that it would help in speedy investigation and strict punishment for the culprits. The Prime Minister further informed that the new laws have provisions for death penalty and life imprisonment for sexual crimes against minors. He also stated that BNS clearly defines false promises of marriage and deception to act against cheating in the name of marriage. “I assure you, the central government is with the state governments in every way to stop atrocities against women. We cannot stop until this sinful mentality has been eradicated from Indian society”, the Prime Minister exclaimed.

The Prime Minister underlined the role of Maharashtra in India’s ascendancy towards the path of development and said that Maharashtra is a shining star of Viksit Bharat. He highlighted that Maharashtra is becoming a center of attraction for investors from all over the world and the state’s future lies in more and more investments and new job opportunities. The Prime Minister also called upon the need for a stable government in the state that can encourage industries and emphasize education, skills and employment of youth. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the mothers and daughters of the state will come together for a stable and prosperous Maharashtra.

Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C P Radhakrishnan,  Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnvis and Shri Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan were present on the occasion among others.