New Delhi, March 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called upon women to encourage people to use local products saying ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign is “deeply connected with women empowerment.” “Vocal for Local has become a big topic for the economy, but it has a very deep connection with women’s empowerment. The power of most local products lies in the hands of women. So in your addresses, in your awareness campaigns, you must encourage people to use local products,” he said. The PM was virtually addressing a Seminar on International Women’s Day in Kutch. He said that when he talks about ‘vocal for local’, people feel buying Deepawali diyas is enough. The ambit of Vocal for Local goes well beyond buying diyas on Deepawali, he emphasized. The Prime Minister explained the steps taken by the government to empower women. “There was a time when women did not own their own property, it was usually in the name of their husbands or sons. But today, because of the PM Awas Yojana, women have been given the rights to their own property,” he said. “There was a time when many women did not have a bank account but today more than 23 crore women have Jan Dhan accounts,” the PM added. He said that more than nine crore Ujjwala gas connections rescued women in the country from smoke. “The government is also trying to increase the age of marriage of daughters to 21 years. This provision is for consideration before the Parliament,” he said. He said that the country is promoting bigger roles to daughters in the Army also and the admission of daughters in Sainik Schools has also begun. The Prime Minister said that the progress of women empowers the nation. “The government is providing financial help to our sisters and daughters to progress and fulfill their dreams. More than 80 per cent of loans under ‘Standup India’ are in the name of women. Nearly 70 per cent of loans under Mudra scheme have been given to our sisters and daughters,” the PM said. The PM said that the government increased maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. “We have enacted strict laws for the safety of women at work places. It also has the provision of capital p shment for heinous crimes like rape,” he said. The Prime Minister said that the priority of the country is complete participation of women in India’s development journey. More than 550 Sadhvis from Gujarat were present in the meeting at Dhordo of Kutch district. on Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar etc. were also present on the occasion. ASU RKM