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In a move aimed at empowering women in rural areas, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, 1 February, announced the expansion of the 'Lakhpati Didi' Scheme to three crore women.
The 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme was introduced on 15 August, 2023, with an aim to encourage women in self-help groups (SHGs) to start micro-enterprises within their villages.
Apart from that, Sitharaman recounted a slew of measures introduced for women by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.
Here are the key highlights from FM Sitharaman's speech:
The FM announced that thirty crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.
Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by twenty-eight percent in ten years, Sitharaman said.
During her speech, Sitharaman said that making ‘Triple Talaq’ illegal, passing the Women's Reservation Bill, and giving over 70 percent houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole or joint owners has "enhanced" the dignity of women.
The finance minister also announced that the government would encourage cervical cancer vaccinations for girls between the ages of 9-14.
In 2023, Sitharaman had announced a one-time saving scheme for women, called 'Mahila Samman Saving Certificate', for a period of two years, with a fixed interest rate of 7.5 percent.
Apart from that, the Finance Minister also stated that the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission "has achieved remarkable success by mobilizing rural women into 81 lakh Self Help Groups (SHG)."
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