On 30 May, the Modi government celebrated its ninth anniversary, a significant milestone in which several reforms and policy initiatives were implemented in India to enhance the lives of women and elevate their social status. Be it the over 9.6 crore women beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme, over 27 crore Jan Dhan accounts, special fixed deposit schemes, over 27 crore Mudra loans to women, or Mission Poshan, each of these programs launched by the Modi government played an important role in empowering women.
Government data shows that ratio of 1,020 females per 1,000 males (NFHS-5) was achieved for the first time in India, over 3.03 crore women paid under PM Matru Vandana Yojana, 3.18 crore Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts 27 crore Mudra loans were opened and given to more than 27 crore women beneficiaries. Also, more than one crore 72 lakh women got houses under PM Awas-Grameen Yojana, while more than 70% of PMAY houses are owned singly or jointly
by women.
The Modi government launched Mission POSHAN, an integrated initiative to address the challenges of malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery, and to build a convergent ecosystem for development. Nutrition assistance program was also started. and promoting practices that nurture health, wellness, and immunity.
Signaling a major achievement when it comes to health and hygiene, the government facilitated the distribution of over 27 crore sanitary pads. 1 and 3.94 crore free antenatal check-ups were done through Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the PM Safe Motherhood Campaign. It was during the tenure of the Modi government that the duration of paid maternity leave was increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. The government data also revealed that the maternal mortality rate came down to 97 in 2018-20 during PM Modi’s rule. “Providing a life of dignity to women is a fundamental promise of governance for the Modi government. This promise is manifested in the increased use of LPG cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, which has helped crores of women with chronic respiratory diseases through smoke-free kitchens. saved.” With the success of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, crores of women are now able to use toilets in their homes without any fear of violation of safety or dignity”, the government has said.
In the 9 years of the Modi government, women have become stronger than stronger. Their success can be seen in the significant increase in women police personnel, the laurels won by sportspersons for the country, and the enrollment of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The government has transformed women from a welfare target to an empowerment agent.
PM Modi had said, “Women empowerment is important for India’s development. Gone are the days of seeing women as ‘housewives’, we have to see women as nation builders.”
A look at the aspect of economic upliftment of women reveals that government schemes are slowly working in the right direction, but more needs to be done. Government data showed that MSME registration on Udyam portal registered over 2 lakh women-owned MSMEs during the special drive, indicating a 28% increase in registration of women-owned MSMEs in just 3 years Is. Over 45,000 DPIIT-accredited startups have at least one woman director. Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) for girls and women was introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2023-24 to celebrate Nari Shakti and its financial dignity – Samman.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 declares instant and irrevocable triple talaq pronounced by a Muslim husband as void and illegal. The ban on women going to Haj without a male companion has also been lifted. If the government manages to reach a consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill, it will be another feather in the cap for the Modi government. Many state governments have so far failed to set up a better healthcare infrastructure especially for women in rural areas and since the NDA government is known for its strong will power to create world class infrastructure, this country’s Women expect a lot from this. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.