Prime Minister  Narendra Modi launched various developmental works in Navsari, Gujarat today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion of International Women’s Day, he expressed his gratitude for the love, affection, and blessings from the mothers, sisters, and daughters present in large numbers, extending his best wishes to all the women of the country on this special day. He added that he was blessed by Maa Ganga in the Maha Kumbh while he was blessed today in the Maha Kumbh of MatruShakti today. The Prime Minister highlighted the launch of two schemes, G-SAFAL (Gujarat scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods) and G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income), today in Gujarat. He also mentioned that funds from various schemes have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of women and congratulated everyone for this achievement.

 Modi mentioned that today was dedicated to women and expressed his gratitude to all and proudly stated that he considers himself the wealthiest person in the world, not in terms of money, but because of the blessings from crores of mothers, sisters, and daughters. “These blessings are my greatest strength, capital, and protective shield”, he emphasised.

Stressing the importance of respecting women, as it is the first step towards the development of society and the nation, the Prime Minister highlighted, “India is now walking the path of women-led development for the rapid progress of the country”. He remarked that the government prioritizes both respect and convenience in women’s lives. He mentioned the construction of toilets, also referred to as ‘Izzat Ghar” or “house of dignity”, for crores of women, which has increased their dignity, and the opening of bank accounts for crores of women, integrating them into the banking system. He also highlighted the provision of Ujjwala cylinders to save women from the hardships of smoke.  Modi noted that the government has extended maternity leave for working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. He acknowledged the demand from Muslim sisters for a law against triple talaq and stated that the government has enacted a strict law to protect the lives of lakhs of Muslim sisters. He also mentioned that when Article 370 was in effect in Jammu and Kashmir, women were deprived of many rights. If they married someone outside the state, they lost their right to ancestral property and with the removal of Article 370, women in Jammu and Kashmir have now gained their rights.

Underlining the increasing opportunities for women at various levels of society, government, and large institutions, the Prime Minister remarked, “women are excelling in every sector, be it politics, sports, judiciary, or police”. He noted that since 2014, women’s participation in important positions has increased significantly, mentioning that the central government has seen the highest number of female ministers, and the presence of women in Parliament has also risen. In 2019, 78 female MPs were elected, and in the 18th Lok Sabha, 74 female MPs are part of the House, he added. Underscoring the growing participation of women in the judiciary, with their presence in district courts exceeding 35%. In several states, over 50% of new recruits as civil judges are women,  Modi highlighted, “India is the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with nearly half of the startups having women in leadership roles”. He also mentioned the significant contributions of women scientists leading major space missions. He expressed pride in the fact that India has the highest number of female pilots in the world. He also acknowledged the role of women in organizing and securing the event in Navsari, with female police officers and officials managing the security arrangements. The Prime Minister shared his earlier interaction with women from self-help groups, noting their enthusiasm and confidence as a testament to the strength of India’s women. He reiterated his belief that the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be fulfilled, with women playing the most significant role in achieving this goal.

Mentioning Gujarat as a prime example of women-led development which has provided the country with a successful cooperative model, developed through the hard work and strength of women, the Prime Minister underscored the global recognition of Amul and how lakhs of women from Gujarat’s villages have turned milk production into a revolution. He added that Gujarati women have not only empowered themselves economically but also strengthened the rural economy. He also highlighted the success of Lijjat Papad, initiated by Gujarati women, which has now become a brand worth hundreds of crores. 

Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, during which the government implemented several initiatives for the welfare of women and girls, such as the Chiranjeevi Yojana, Beti Bachao Abhiyan, Mamta Divas, Kanya Kelavani Rath Yatra, Kunwarbai Nu Mameru, Saat Phera Samuh Lagna Yojana, and Abhayam Helpline,  Modi emphasized that Gujarat has demonstrated to the entire country how women’s strength can be enhanced through the right policies. He mentioned the direct transfer of funds to the accounts of women involved in dairy work, a practice that started in Gujarat and has now been extended to millions of beneficiaries across the country. He highlighted that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has curbed scams worth thousands of crores and provided assistance to the poor.

Highlighting the government’s efforts in empowering women by providing houses in their names during the reconstruction after the Bhuj earthquake,  Modi mentioned that the same approach is being followed in the PM-Awas Yojana, with nearly 3 crore women becoming homeowners since 2014. He remarked on the global recognition of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has brought water to villages across the country. In the past five years, piped water has reached 15.5 crore households in thousands of villages, emphasising the significant role of women’s water committees in the success of this mission. He added that this model originated in Gujarat and is now addressing the water crises nationwide.

Stressing the importance of water conservation while addressing the issue of water scarcity, the Prime Minister highlighted the nationwide campaign “Catch the Rain,” led by Union Minister for Jal Shakti,  C.R. Patil, which aims to prevent rainwater from going to waste by conserving it where it falls. He praised the efforts of the women in Navsari, who have completed over 5,000 projects, including ponds, check dams, borewell recharge, and community soak pits, to save rainwater. He mentioned that hundreds of water conservation projects are still ongoing in Navsari, with the goal of constructing 1,000 percolation pits in a single day.  Modi acknowledged Navsari district as one of the leading districts in Gujarat for rainwater harvesting and water conservation, extending special congratulations to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Navsari for their achievements in this area.