New Delhi, February 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that women will play the most important role in creating a developed India, and the government's initiatives will empower them.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, the prime minister said that in the past few years, it has been a matter of pride that Indian women are leading the way in various fields of science and technology.
"Whether it's space or start-ups, they are making a significant impact," he said.
Modi said that the welfare of women guided every decision taken by his government, and the new initiative to set up girls' STEM hostels in every district can lead to a significant increase in education and innovation among women.
He said that the decision to train 1.5 lakh caregivers next year and expand institutions for Allied Health Professionals will formalize care work, which is largely restricted to the informal sector.
The prime minister said that the decision to train caregivers will create dignified, certified employment for women and simultaneously strengthen India's healthcare capacity.
He said that this year's Budget also factored in the new-age sectors of the economy, and through AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges and the establishment of formal creative infrastructure, the government is ensuring that sectors like animation, VFX, gaming, and digital content have record levels of women's participation.
"These are sunrise sectors, and women's participation will make them even more vibrant," Modi said.
"It is my conviction that women will play the most important role in creating a developed India," the prime minister said.
Modi said that from the birth of the girl child to the fulfillment of women's aspirations, the government has initiatives and reforms that are working for women at every step.
"Whether it is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat, scholarships for girls, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, MUDRA, or PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, the flagship schemes of our government are addressing women's needs and aspirations," he said.
The prime minister said that the government has announced an initiative that will use innovative financial models to support community-owned retail outlets.
"When women control market access, supply chains, and retail platforms, they move up the value chain. This directly lowers the barriers of capital access, market access, and scale," he said.
The prime minister said that this should be seen alongside the government's efforts to encourage entrepreneurship among women, such as Self-Help Groups, the MUDRA Yojana, and Lakhpati Didis, through which crores of women have become self-reliant.
"This also boosts women's social status," Modi said.
He said that it is well known that the khadi, village industries, handloom, and handicrafts sectors see significant participation by women.
"The Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative strengthens this sector by providing training, skills, quality, and market access to people. The consolidation of various existing schemes under a National Handloom and Handicraft Programme will also provide an integrated, focused approach," the prime minister said.