Nari Shakti is Strongest Pillar of Viksit Bharat: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated that his government's policies have consistently accorded the highest priority to women's welfare, asserting that "nari shakti" (women power) is the strongest pillar of Viksit Bharat (developed India).

Addressing a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, PM Modi emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring women's participation in the country's policy-making.

"The mission to make India developed continues unabated. And when I speak of a developed India, its strongest pillar is India's 'Nari shakti' (women power)," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister highlighted that BJP governments have focused on the safety of women, contrasting the current situation with that under the previous Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh.

"You have seen the situation change before your eyes here in Uttar Pradesh. Until a few years ago, when the Samajwadi Party was in power here, it was difficult for daughters to even step out of their homes. But now, under the BJP government, anyone harbouring negative thoughts against daughters knows exactly what the consequences will be. Bhartiya Nyan Sanhita has also given sisters and daughters a new confidence in their safety," he said.

He added that under the Bhartiya Nyan Sanhita, decisions in serious crimes against women are being made more quickly. The network of women's police stations and counselling centres is also continuously expanding. Work has begun on a new women's police station and counselling centre building in Varanasi, which he stated guarantees the safety of daughters.

PM Modi referred to the development projects of around Rs 6350 crore unveiled during the Mahila Sammelan, stating, "Today's occasion is certainly a celebration of Nari Shakti Vandan and Vikas. Just a short while ago, the foundation stone was laid, and projects worth thousands of crores of rupees were inaugurated here. This includes projects related to all types of development in Kashi. There are also works to enhance the connectivity between Kashi and Ayodhya."

He also mentioned the flagging off of two Amrit Bharat trains, from Kashi to Pune and Ayodhya to Mumbai, which he said will further improve connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, providing a modern option for people to reach Ayodhya Dham and Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

Seeking blessings from the women present, PM Modi reiterated his goal to implement reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. He blamed parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress for the unsuccessful efforts in Parliament previously, assuring that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure women's reservation rights are implemented.

PM Modi linked the idea of women's participation to the construction of the country's new Parliament, stating that the first action was to provide 33% reservation to women. He recalled that this right had been blocked for 40 years, and the Nari Shakti Vandan Act was passed in 2023. He criticized parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK for allegedly betraying women by putting a brake on this reservation for 40 years, attributing their opposition to a fear of women's power.

He recalled a campaign two years ago in Varanasi related to the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, where 27,000 girls in Kashi opened accounts and received Rs 300. He stated that this scheme plays a major role in girls' education and their future, while the Mudra Yojana strengthens their earning potential.

"For the first time, property has been registered in the names of millions of girls. Most of the houses under the PM Awas Yojana are also in the name of women. Today, our mother and sister truly deserve to be the owners of their own homes," he added.

PM Modi emphasized that empowering women at home strengthens the entire family, society, and the country. He acknowledged the past struggles and stereotypes faced by women, where their aspirations were often questioned or dismissed.

Recalling his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, he mentioned launching schemes like Shala Praveshotsav to encourage girls' school admission and Mukhyamantri Kanya KelavNidhi Yojana to assist with school fees. He reiterated that women's welfare has been a top priority since his government came to power in 2014, citing the construction of over 120 million toilets in the country as an example of prioritizing women's needs.