More than seven crore women have joined Self Help Groups in the last 9 years, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
While addressing a post-budget webinar on the economic empowerment of women, he said that this year's budget will give new momentum to the efforts of women-led development.
He continued that India has taken these efforts to the global stage as it is figuring prominently in the G-20 meeting presided over by India.
"This year's budget will give new momentum to these efforts of women-led development," he said.
The Prime Minister underlined Nari Shakti’s strengths of determination, willpower, imagination, ability to work for goals and extremely hard work as a reflection of ‘Matru Shakti’.
He said these qualities are playing a major role in increasing the speed and scale of India in this century.
PM Modi said that today, the results of efforts for women's empowerment are visible and we are feeling a revolutionary change in the social life of the country.
He said that the number of women compared to men is increasing and the number of girls studying up to high school and beyond has tripled in the last 9-10 years.
"Girls’ enrollment in science, technology, engineering and Maths is at 43 per cent today, more than countries like America, the UK and Germany. In fields like medicine, sports, business or politics, not only the participation of women has grown but they are leading from the front," he added.
The Prime Minister touched upon the fact that 70 per cent of Mudra loan beneficiaries are women.
He said," Similarly, women benefit from the scheme for promotion of collateral-free loans under SVANidhi and promotion schemes in animal husbandry, fisheries, village industries, FPOs and sports.
PM Modi pointed out that these women are contributing not only as small entrepreneurs but also as capable resource persons.
He mentioned the Bank Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi programs that are scaling new dimensions of development in villages.