Dharamshala, April 16: Rajiv Bindal, the President of the Himachal Pradesh BJP, stated on Thursday that the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,’ introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a historic step toward strengthening Indian democracy.
Speaking at an event, Bindal remarked, “There has been a significant shift in the perspective of women’s empowerment in India. Previously, it was limited to welfare schemes, but now the focus is on strengthening society and the nation through women.”
He emphasized that the implementation of this act will increase women’s participation in Parliament and state assemblies, bringing balance, sensitivity, and inclusivity to policymaking.
Highlighting the achievements of the central government, Bindal noted that a comprehensive ‘lifecycle approach’ has been adopted to empower women at every stage of life.
He mentioned that over 4.27 crore women have benefited from the ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana,’ with direct transfers of ₹20,101 crore into their accounts. Under Nutrition 2.0, nearly 14 lakh Anganwadi centers serve about 90 million people daily. The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign has also led to significant improvements in the sex ratio at birth.
The state BJP president further stated that under ‘Mission Shakti,’ 926 one-stop centers provide legal, medical, and mental support to women in one location. Additionally, the ‘181’ women’s helpline has assisted approximately 9.9 million women across the country.
On economic empowerment, Bindal revealed that around 68% of loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have been granted to women, totaling over ₹14.72 lakh crore for female entrepreneurs.
He added that 10 crore women have been linked to self-help groups, with over 3 crore becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and achieving self-reliance.
Bindal also discussed improvements in health, noting that the maternal mortality rate has decreased from 130 in 2014 to 88 in 2023. The ‘Mission Indradhanush’ initiative has also contributed to a reduction in infant mortality rates.
In education, he highlighted progress with increased enrollment of girls at the secondary level and a rapid rise in women’s participation in higher education and research.
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