On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched a series of developmental initiatives in Navsari, Gujarat. Addressing a vast gathering, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the immense love, affection, and blessings showered upon him by the mothers, sisters, and daughters present. Extending his best wishes to women across the country, he drew a poignant parallel, remarking that while he received the blessings of Maa Ganga at the Maha Kumbh, today he was blessed in the Maha Kumbh of Matru Shakti. A key highlight of the event was the launch of two transformative schemes—G-SAFAL (Gujarat Scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods) and G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income). Shri Modi also underscored the direct transfer of funds from various welfare schemes into the bank accounts of women, a milestone in financial empowerment, and congratulated beneficiaries on this achievement. Empowerment of Women: The Cornerstone of Progress Reflecting on the significance of the day, the Prime Minister declared that he considered himself the wealthiest person—not in monetary terms, but in the invaluable blessings of millions of women across the country. “These blessings are my greatest strength, my capital, and my protective shield,” he affirmed. Emphasising that women’s empowerment is fundamental to societal and national development, he stated, India is now treading the path of women-led development, ensuring rapid progress for the nation. He highlighted various initiatives aimed at enhancing both dignity and convenience in the lives of women, such as the construction of toilets (‘Izzat Ghar’ or ‘House of Dignity’), financial inclusion through bank accounts, the provision of Ujjwala cylinders to alleviate the hardships of traditional cooking methods, and the extension of maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Shri Modi also acknowledged the concerns of Muslim women regarding triple talaq and noted that the government has enacted a stringent law to protect their rights. He further mentioned that the abrogation of Article 370 has restored property rights to women in Jammu & Kashmir, which were previously lost upon marrying outside the state. Women’s Rising Influence Across Sectors Lauding the increasing representation of women in various spheres, the Prime Minister highlighted their growing prominence in politics, sports, judiciary, law enforcement, and entrepreneurship. Since 2014, the participation of women in key leadership roles has surged, with a record number of female ministers in the central government and a rising presence in Parliament. He noted that in 2019, 78 women MPs were elected, while the 18th Lok Sabha currently has 74 female representatives. Additionally, he pointed out that over 35% of judges in district courts are now women, with some states seeing more than 50% of new civil judges being female. The Prime Minister celebrated India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, which ranks third globally, with nearly half of the startups led by women. He also applauded the crucial role of women scientists in pioneering major space missions and expressed pride in India having the highest number of female pilots in the world. Gujarat: A Model of Women-Led Development Shri Modi hailed Gujarat as an exemplar of women-led economic empowerment, particularly in the cooperative sector. He cited the phenomenal success of Amul, where women have transformed dairy farming into an economic revolution, and Lijjat Papad, an enterprise initiated by Gujarati women that has grown into a brand worth hundreds of crores. Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he recounted the introduction of several groundbreaking initiatives for women’s welfare, such as Chiranjeevi Yojana, Beti Bachao Abhiyan, Mamta Divas, Kanya Kelavani Rath Yatra, Kunwarbai Nu Mameru, Saat Phera Samuh Lagna Yojana, and the Abhayam Helpline. He credited Gujarat for pioneering direct benefit transfers (DBT) to women in the dairy sector—an initiative now benefiting millions across India by eliminating leakages and ensuring transparency. Strengthening Women’s Rights and Opportunities Highlighting the government’s efforts in empowering women through housing schemes, Shri Modi noted that during the Bhuj earthquake reconstruction, properties were allotted in women’s names, a practice now extended nationwide through the PM-Awas Yojana, which has enabled nearly 3 crore women to become homeowners since 2014. He also underscored the impact of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has provided piped water to 15.5 crore households in thousands of villages over the past five years. Gujarat, he remarked, has been at the forefront of this movement, with Navsari emerging as a leader in rainwater harvesting. He praised the women of Navsari for spearheading over 5,000 water conservation projects and their ambitious goal of constructing 1,000 percolation pits in a single day. Expanding Economic Opportunities for Women The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to boosting women's financial independence through self-help groups (SHGs). He noted that over 100 million women are actively managing more than 90 lakh SHGs across India, with over 3 lakh SHGs operating in Gujarat alone. He reaffirmed the government’s mission to create ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women who achieve financial self-sufficiency. Currently, 15 million women have attained this milestone, and the goal is to elevate 3 crore women to this status within five years. He applauded the Gujarat government’s initiative to add 10 lakh more ‘Lakhpati Didis’ to this movement. To further strengthen SHGs, the government has increased their budget fivefold in the past decade and introduced collateral-free loans up to Rs 2 million. Additionally, SHGs are being equipped with training in new skills and modern technologies. Harnessing Technology for Rural Empowerment Shri Modi highlighted the success of ‘Drone Didi’, a scheme that has defied scepticism by integrating modern agricultural technology with rural women’s capabilities. He cited ‘Bank Sakhi’, ‘Bima Sakhi’, ‘Krishi Sakhi’, and ‘Pashu Sakhi’ as transformative initiatives enhancing women’s financial and agricultural proficiency. Ensuring Safety and Justice for Women Reaffirming his unwavering commitment to women's safety, Shri Modi emphasised the stringent legal measures undertaken by his government, including: Fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice, with 800 courts approved across the country, most of which are operational. Enhanced penalties for heinous crimes, including the death penalty for rape. 24x7 women’s helplines and one-stop centres across India, assisting over 10 lakh women. Under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), he noted, cases of crimes against women are now being expedited. He cited recent landmark verdicts—including a life imprisonment sentence in Surat within 15 days and a death sentence in Kolkata within 80 days—as proof of the system’s newfound efficiency. A Vision for Viksit Bharat Concluding his address, Shri Modi reassured the nation that he remains steadfast in his mission to remove barriers to women’s aspirations. He likened his role to that of a devoted son serving his mother, pledging that through hard work, dedication, and the blessings of the people, India will achieve its goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil, and other dignitaries. Background Women’s empowerment has been a cornerstone of the government’s agenda, with initiatives spanning economic, social, and legal domains. On International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister participated in the Lakhpati Didi programme in Vansi Borsi village, Navsari, where he interacted with and felicitated five ‘Lakhpati Didis’ with official certificates. The newly launched G-MAITRI scheme aims to support rural startups, while G-SAFAL will provide financial aid and entrepreneurial training to SHG women in two Aspirational Districts and thirteen Aspirational Blocks of Gujarat.