In an indirect message to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the recent shocking rape and murder of a junior doctor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the safety and empowerment of women are top national priorities.
He reminded all State Governments and political parties that atrocities against women are an “unpardonable sin” and that the perpetrators and their accomplices must not be spared.
“Every public institution, whether a hospital, school, office, or police system, must be held accountable for ensuring the safety of women working there. Any negligence in this regard is unacceptable. Governments may change, but our foremost responsibility as a society and Government is to protect the life and dignity of women,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a “Lakhpati Didi Sammelan” in Jalgaon, North Maharashtra, after distributing certificates to 11 lakh women who recently became “Lakhpatis.”
He also released a “Revolving Fund” of Rs 2,500 crore, benefiting about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and disbursing bank loans of Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs. “Since the start of the Lakhpati Didi Yoajna, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis and the government has set a target of making three crore Lakhpati Didis,” he said.
Having apparently taken cognisance of the Kolkata rape and murder incident and also the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old children at a kindergarten school at Badlapur in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister said: “The safety of the women is a top priority of the nation as much as their empowerment. I understand the pain and anger of my sisters and daughters, irrespective of the states. I remind all the state governments and the political parties of the country that atrocities against women are an unpardonable sin and the guilty persons and accomplices must not be spared”.
The Prime Minister said that the Government was, on its part, making laws stricter to give the harshest punishment to those who commit atrocities on women.
“Earlier FIRs were not being registered on time on complaints relating to sexual crimes. As a result, the investigations in such cases used to be very time-consuming. The obstacles have been removed in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) where an entire chapter has been made on atrocities against women and children,” Modi said.
“The victims can now register e-FIR if they do not wish to go to the police station and measures are in place to ensure swift action and no tampering with e-FIR at the police station level. This helps in speedy investigation and strict punishment for the culprits,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the new laws had provisions for death penalty and life imprisonment for sexual crimes against minors. “BNS clearly defines false promises of marriage and deception to act against cheating in the name of marriage. I assure you, our government is with the state governments in every way to stop atrocities against women. We cannot stop until this sinful mentality has been eradicated from Indian society,” Modi said.
Modi, who began his address by offering his condolences to the families to at least 27 persons from Jalgaon killed in a recent bus accident at Tanahun in Nepal, said that the Government had rushed Union Minister Rakshatai Khadse was sent to Nepal immediately after the incident, He said that the mortal remains of the deceased had been brought by special Air Force aircraft and those injured are being looked after. Apart from praying for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident, he assured the affected families possible assistance from the Centre and State Government.
Averring that the traditions of Maharashtra are known not only in India but around the world”, Modi said that he witnessed the culture of Maharashtra during his recent visit to Poland where “the people of Maharashtra are highly respected”. Recalling the era of World War II when thousands of women and children from Poland were given refuge by the royal family of Kolhapur following the traditions laid down by Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “The Kolhapur Memorial is dedicated to the spirit of service and hospitality of the people of Kolhapur by the people of Poland. I felt proud when such tales were narrated to me during my visit to Poland,” he said.
Alluding to the contributions made by women in making India the third-largest economy in the world, Modi lamented that empowerment of women had been neglected in the past. “Crores of women in the country did not own any property which caused a major hindrance in availing bank loans to start small businesses. “ That’s why I pledged to reduce the burden on women. Our Government took decisions in the interest of women one after the other.”
Drawing parallels from the 10 years of the Modi government with the seven decades of previous governments, the Prime Minister said that his government had done work in the interest of women than any other previous governments of the past.
“We, therefore, decided to register the houses for the poor in the name of the woman of the house. Most of the 4 crore houses built so far have been registered under the name of women. Even in the upcoming 3 crore houses being built, most of them will be registered in the name of women,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said that even in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, most bank accounts were opened in the name of women. “Seventy percent of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Manti Mudra Yojana are mothers and sisters of the nation,” he said.
Recalling how he was warned against giving loans to women in the past, Modi said: “ I have complete trust in the Matrushakti and that they would return the loans honestly without fail. Based on the encouraging response we have received, we have increased the loan limit of PM Mudra Yojana to Rs 20 lakh,” he said.
Referring to the Swanidhi scheme launched for street vendors, Modi said that even under this scheme, loans were being given without guarantee, whose benefits had reached the women-folk. He said that this government had extended benefits without guarantee to many women of the Vishwakarma families, who are doing handicrafts.
Dwelling upon the importance of Sakhi Mandalis and women’s self-help groups was not recognized earlier, Modi said that every village and tribal region was witnessing positive changes brought by women’s self-help groups. He said that ten crore women have joined the campaign in the last ten years. “Bank loans worth less than Rs 25,000 crore were sanctioned for self-help groups in 2014, while today that number has risen to Rs 9 lakh crore in the last 10 years,
Modi said that in the recent Union Budget, Rs 3 lakh crore had been allocated for schemes related to women. He said that the government was working towards opening all sectors for women which were once restricted for them and gave examples of women officers in all three armed forces including fighter pilots, admission into Sainik schools and academies and increasing number of women in the police force and paramilitary force. “A large number of women are managing businesses ranging from the agriculture and dairy sector in villages to the start-up revolution, “ he said.
Maharashtra Governor P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnvis and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan were prominent among those present at the function
