New Delhi, Feb 1:
Presenting her sixth consecutive budget as the country’s first woman Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the empowerment of women gained momentum in the past ten years under the Narendra Modi Government.
In a bid to woo women voters ahead of general elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday while presenting the interim Budget 2024-25 in Lok Sabha proposed to enhance the target for ‘Lakhpati Didi’ from2 crore to 3 crore.
Under Lakhpati Didi scheme, women are provided skill training to enable them earn over Rs 1 lakh per year.
Sitharaman said that 83 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) with nine crore women are transforming rural socio-economic landscape with empowerment and self-reliance.
“Their success has assisted nearly one crore women to become Lakhpati Didi already. They are an inspiration to others. Their achievements will be recognized through honouring them,” the Finance Minister said.
She further said, “Buoyed by the success, it has been decided to enhance the target for Lakhpati Didi from 2 crore to 3 crore.” The Finance Minister stated that the government is working with an approach to development that is all-round, all-pervasive and all-inclusive.
The government is working to make India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, she said.
“For achieving that goal, we need to improve people’s capability and empower them,” she added
