NEW DELHI: Focusing on his slogan to make India a developed nation, PM Modi said Monday that the country must tap women power by empowering them, along with the development of eastern and northeastern regions.
“To empower women, it is crucial to ensure they have ample opportunities to progress and that every obstacle is removed from their path. When women are given opportunities to advance, they, in turn, unlock new opportunities for the nation. For years, there were many professions in our country where women were barred from working. Our BJP govt resolved to eliminate every barrier hindering our daughters,” he said at Panipat in Haryana, where he had launched ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign 10 years ago.
On Monday, he unveiled Bima Sakhi initiative, a programme aimed at enrolling lakhs of women as insurance agents. “This initiative enables women, who were once denied access to insurance services, to become key players in connecting others to these services. In doing so, they will also lead the expansion of the insurance sector… Their role will be instrumental in achieving our nation’s goal of ‘Insurance for All’,” Modi said.
He also used the platform to comfort farmers in Haryana at a time when agriculturists across the border in neighbouring Punjab are once again raising demands for MPS guarantee, pension and loan waiver, among other things.
“…During the first two terms, Haryana’s farmers received over Rs 1.25 lakh crore as MSP. In this third term, Rs 14,000 crore has already been provided as MSP to paddy, millet, and moong farmers. Additionally, over Rs 800 crore has been allocated to assist farmers affected by drought,” the PM said as he promised that the BJP govt in the state will work three times faster in its third term.