International Women’s Day: Govt will keep working to further women’s empowerment, says PM Modi | India News

NEW DLHI: On International Women’s Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the “achievements of Nari Shakti” and said that the role of women in India’s progress is deeply cherished.
The Prime Minister tweeted: “On International Women’s Day, a tribute to the achievements of our Nari Shakti. We greatly cherish the role of women in India’s progress. Our Government will keep working to further women empowerment. #NariShaktiForNewIndia”

In another tweet, Modi also shared a video which he said was an “interesting compilation” of stories of women achievers whose life journeys were chronicled in different episodes of Mann Ki Baat.
The video that spans more than four minutes starts with the story of Jamuna Tudu from Jharkhand whose story the PM had shared in the 53rd episode of Mann Ki Baat in February 2019. Popularly known as “lady tarzan” she took on the timber mafia and naxalities. She not only stepped in to protect 50 hectares of forest land but also inspired 10,000 women to unite to protect trees and wildlife. Her village plants 18 trees for every child born and 10 on a girl’s marriage. The PM in his Mann Ki Baat described Tudu as an inspiration for all green crusaders.
Rajkumari Devi, whose story also figured on the 53rd episode figures in this video compilation is popularly known as “Kisan Chachi”. Devi hails from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur. She organised 300 women of her area into a self help group and motivated the entire lot to become financially self-reliant. Aside from training the women in other gainful occupations, she helped them integrate technology into agriculture.
The third story is from Uttar Pradesh and featured in the 60th episode of Mann Ki Baat in December 2019. It dwells on how a group of women from Phulpur struggling with poverty and financial hardships came together and decided to join the Kadipur self-help group where they learnt to make slippers and became self-reliant. Through Gramin Ajivika Mission a slipper manufacturing facility was established where slippers are being made using modern technology.
In the 74th episode of Mann Ki Baat in February 2021, the PM spoke about water warrior Babita Rajput from Madhya Pradesh who inspired women in her village in Bundelkhand to take action for water. Women in her village built a canal to revive a dried-up lake nearby. Through this canal rainwater began to flow directly into the lake, which is now filled with water.
The PM had spoken about Kunni Deori from Odisha in the 94th episode of Mann Ki Baat in October 2022. Kunni is enabling other women to earn a living by using solar energy. She trains tribal women to spin silk on a solar-powered reeling machine. Solar machines save these tribal women from paying electricity bills, and income is generated.
Earlier in the day, women and child development minister Smriti Irani in a tweet said, “International day of women is a reminder that the role of women is imperative for any society to prosper and progress. It is a day to recognise and appreciate their achievements. Celebrate accomplishments and contribution of every woman in your life.”
She further stated that “the power of Nari Shakti has been ingrained in our civilisational ethos. Today, the women of India are exploring unchartered territories and giving a filip to India’s development story. Let us continue to encourage and support the cause of #NariShaktiForNewIndia in spirit and action.”