Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today that ₹1000 crores had been transferred to the Uttar Pradesh government's Self-Help Groups which is expected to benefit around 16 lakh women at the grassroots level. The Prime Minister was speaking at a rally held in Prayagraj, where the BJP expects to maintain its grip over UP in the coming Assembly Elections.
Women empowerment was one of the main themes of the rally, as the Prime Minister also highlighted the achievement of the BJP government in getting care to pregnant women and ensuring vaccinations and hospital deliveries were available to them. The number of girls in the country had increased under the Beti Bachao Bet Padhao scheme he claimed.
The rally was attended by over 2 lakh women who gathered to hear the Prime Minister speak in a sea of colourful saris. The Prime Minister hailed Prayagraj as a "symbol of our mother power" where three powerful and symbolic rivers, the Ganga,Yamuna and Saraswati, met.
"Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, ₹5,000 is deposited in the bank accounts of women during pregnancy, so that they can take care of proper diet," PM Modi said. He also took a swipe at opposing parties by remarking that the recent decision to raise marriageable age of women from 18 to 21 was causing some people "pain".
"Daughters also want time to pursue their studies, to get equal opportunities. Therefore, efforts are being made to raise the age of marriage to 21 years for daughters," he said.
PM Modi also transferred ₹ 20 crore to more than one lakh beneficiaries under the 'Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Scheme', which provides conditional cash transfer to a girl child at different stages of her life. He also laid the foundation stone of 202 Supplementary Nutrition Manufacturing Units.
Addressing the rally, he said that women are being linked with self-help groups and rural organizations across the country through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana. "I consider the sisters of women's self-help groups to be the champions of the self-reliant India campaign. These self-help groups are actually National Help Groups," he said. The building of toilets and encouragement of women entrepreneurs was also an important part of the BJP government's efforts to help women.i
Prime Minister Modi also hailed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, present at the rally, who he said had cleansed UP of a goonda menace.
"Today there is security in Uttar Pradesh as well as rights. Uttar Pradesh has possibilities as well as business. I am sure that no one can push this new Uttar Pradesh back into the dark when we have the blessings of our mothers and sister," said Modi.