With the aim to empower women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday transferred around Rs 1,000 crore in the bank accounts of Self Help Groups (SHGs), benefitting around 16 lakh women members of the SHGs.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), this transfer has been done under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), with 80,000 SHGs receiving Community Investment Fund (CIF) of Rs 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60,000 SHGs receiving Revolving Fund of Rs 15,000 per SHG. He also transferred money to over 1 lakh beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Scheme in Prayagraj that provides assistance to girl child.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 202 Supplementary Nutrition Manufacturing Units. These units are being funded by the Self Help Groups and will be constructed at the cost of approximately Rs 1 crore for one unit. These units will supply Supplementary Nutrition under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in 600 blocks of the state.
PM Modi will visit Varanasi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, in what will be the second trip to his parliamentary constituency in 10 days, and launch and lay the foundation stones for several projects worth crores of rupees, his office said on Tuesday. On the PM’s arrival in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the Prime Minister at the historical city.
Stating that the entire country is a witness to the development that has taken place in Uttar Pradesh under the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, PM Modi on Tuesday said that daughters of Uttar Pradesh have decided that they will not let the previous governments come back to power.
Addressing the people at the launch of “Kanya Sumangala Yojana” in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, the Prime Minister said, “Right now I got the privilege of transferring crores of rupees to the accounts of more than 1 lakh beneficiary daughters of Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana. This scheme will benefit the daughters of the state. Most of the beneficiaries are those girls who did not even have accounts until some time ago. But today they have the power of digital banking. Now daughters of Uttar Pradesh have decided that they will not let the previous governments come back to power.”
Attacking the Opposition over the issue of woman empowerment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Union Cabinet has taken a decision to increase the marriageable age of women from 18 years to 21 years, but some people are troubled with the decision. “The double engine government is working relentlessly to empower the future of daughters without any discrimination and favouritism. The central government has taken a decision. Earlier the age of marriage for sons was 21 years, but for daughters, it was only 18 years.”
“Daughters wanted that they should get time for pursuing studies, to progress and get equal opportunities. Efforts are being made to raise the age of marriage to 21 years for daughters. The country is taking this decision for the daughters, but people can see some are troubled by this decision,” he stated.
Referring to the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign, Prime Minister said the Centre has tried to awaken the consciousness of the society through the campaign to prevent female foeticide. “Over 30 lakh houses in Uttar Pradesh have been built under PM Awas Yojana and about 25 lakh houses are registered in women’s name. For generations, women did not have any property here but today they own the entire house. This is what true women empowerment is,” he added.