The focus on women in the Interim Budget represents a significant shift in India's policy approach. Women's empowerment and financial autonomy are now core components of India's development strategy, aligning with the country's G20 presidency priorities.
'Nari Shakti' or women power is a government initiative aimed at economic development for women. It has been recognized as a key pillar of the Prime Minister's policy agenda, with the goal of uplifting the socioeconomic status of women.
Self Help Groups have empowered over nine crore women, involving them in various developmental activities such as natural farming, community services, and even tech-driven operations like drone usage.
Programs under the financial inclusion umbrella have allowed women entrepreneurs, especially in rural areas, to gain direct access to financial resources like credit and insurance.
Political representation for women has seen an increase, with the current percentage of women MPs showing an upward trend, indicating enhanced political empowerment for women.
The PMKaushal Vikas Yojana has certified over 59 lakh women. The PMMudra Yojana has sanctioned about 70% of its loans to women entrepreneurs. The StandUp India scheme benefits nearly 80% women.
Digital literacy programs have seen 53% of its beneficiaries being women. Education and training initiatives have been pushing for an increase in the female labor force participation rate, which has shown significant improvement.
These measures reflect an overarching strategy to integrate women more comprehensively into the nation's economic and political tapestry, acknowledging their critical role in shaping India's future.
The Lakhpati Didi scheme is a targeted initiative aimed at elevating women, particularly those involved in Self Help Groups (SHGs), to a status of economic selfsufficiency. This scheme has enabled numerous women across India to earn over ₹1.0 lakh annually, effectively making them 'lakhpati', a term used in India to denote individuals who earn a substantial amount of money.
The success of the scheme reflects in its reach, with targets being surpassed as it now benefits not just individual women but two to three crore women. The program stands as a testament to the success of the SHGs and the government's focus on women-led development, contributing to their financial independence and empowerment.
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