JALGAON, Aug 25 : Today when India is striving to become developed our women power is once again coming forward, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday addressing a gathering of Lakhpati Didis in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon.
The Prime Minister noted that women power of India has always contributed to building the future of the society and the nation.
Underlining that the government’s Lakhpati Didi campaign is not just a way to boost the income of mothers and sisters but an effort 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 earning,” the Prime Minister said.
He also gave away certificates and felicitated 11 lakh women who recently became Lakhpati Didis during the third term of the present government. The Prime Minister also interacted with Lakhpati Didis from across the country.
A Lakhpati Didi is a self-help group member, whose annual household income is more than rupees one lakh with an average monthly income of Rs 10,000 or more sustained for at least four agricultural seasons and/or four business cycles.
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.
Prime Minister paid condolences to the victims of the bus accident tragedy in Tanahun, Nepal where several people from Jalgaon lost their lives.
Expressing happiness over the attendance of a huge crowd of mothers and sisters at the mega event, 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 help many women to transform into Lakhpati Didis.
Modi 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.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that the state would aim to nurture 50 lakh women as Lakhpati Didis.
Pawar welcomed the Prime Minister saying the chariot of development led by Modi has arrived in Jalgaon.
It is the first time in my political life that I have seen such a large number of women welcoming the Prime Minister in Maharashtra, he said.
“Modi’s goal is to make three crore women as Lakhpati Didis . Let us resolve to make 5 million women in Maharashtra into Lakhpati Didis,” he said. (UNI)