Crime against women unforgivable, guilty should not be spared: PM Modi at ‘Lakhpati Didi’ rally

JALGAON,AUG 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed crimes against women an unpardonable sin, adding the guilty should not be spared.

Modi’s strong remarks follow protests against the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and the sexual abuse of two four-year-old school girls in Badlapur.

Speaking at the ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ in north Maharashtra’s Jalgaon, Modi said the safety of women should be a priority.

“The safety of mothers, sisters and daughters is the country’s priority. I have raised this issue repeatedly from the Red Fort. Be it any state of the country, I understand the pain and anger of my sisters and daughters,”” he said.

Modi said that he would tell every political party and state government that crime against women is an unpardonable sin. Whoever is guilty should not be spared, he added.

“Those helping the perpetrators of crimes against women should not be spared. Be it a hospital, school, government or police system, at whatever level negligence occurs, everyone should be held accountable “The message should go from top to bottom. This sin is unpardonable. Governments will come and go, but protecting life and women’s dignity is a big responsibility of all of us, both as a society and as a government,”” Modi said.

Modi further said that his government is strengthening laws to provide for stringent punishment for crimes against women.

The Lakhpati Didis event felicitated 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis who achieved the mark during the third term of his government.

“Till 2014, less than Rs 25,000 crore loans were given to women self-help groups but in the last 10 years, Rs 9 lakh crore was given,” Modi said.

“The Lakhpati Didi scheme is not only about boosting the income of women, but also about empowering future generations,” Modi said.

“You must have heard that India is going to become the third-largest economy in the world. Women play a huge role in it. However, it wasn’t the case a couple of years ago,” the PM highlighted

“Women guarantee the prosperity of every home and every family. However, there was no one to guarantee help for the women. Women didn’t have property in their name, and if they had to take a loan from a bank, they could not avail it. In such a situation, they were not able to build their own small business,” he added.

“Therefore, I, your son and brother, resolved to ease your lives. We took decisions in the interest of women year after year. When I visited you during the Lok Sabha elections, I promised we would make 3 crore sisters Lakhpati Didi. This means women who work in Self Help Groups, and their annual income is more than one lakh rupees,” he said.

In the last 10 years, one crore Lakhpati Didis were made, and in just two months 11 lakh more Lakhpati Didi were added to one crore, he said.

Modi also said Maharashtra needs the BJP-led Mahayuti government to continue for years to come to ensure the state’s stability and prosperity.

“Maharashtra is the shining star of a developed India. The future of the state lies in more investment and job growth,” he said.

Modi, who interacted with Lakhpati Didis, released the Rs 2,500 crore revolving fund benefiting 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh self-help groups.

The SHGs are active in the livestock sector, while others have been working in government schemes like ‘Krishi Sakhi’ and ‘NAMO Drone Didi’. The officials implementing the schemes said SHGs play a vital role in imparting skills that help meet the requirements in rural areas and generate employment locally.

“The Lakhpati Didi scheme is not only about boosting the income of women, but also about empowering future generations,” Modi said.

Since the inception of the scheme for making Lakhpati Didis, one crore women have already joined the rank. The government has set a target to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis.

-PTI