Jalgaon, Aug 26 (Representative) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that 11 lakh ‘lakhpati didis’ have been created in last two months in the country and their number is one lakh in Maharashtra. Addressing the gathering at the Lakhpati Didi function here, he said, “My sisters who are connected with lakhs of self-help groups across the country have received funds of Rs 6,400 crore. Lakhs of sisters in Maharashtra, too, will get crores of funds through this. “Recalling his electoral promise made during the Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra, he said that he had assured of making three crore ‘lakhpati didis’. He said that the government has set a target of creating three crore ‘didis’ through self-help groups by providing loans to self-help groups through banks and providing a proper market for their products. Women working in self-help groups will have an annual income of more than Rs one lakh, he said.In last 10 years, one crore women became ‘lakhpati didis’ and in last two months alone, 11 lakh more ‘lakhpati didis’ were added, of this, one lakh ‘didis’ were in Maharashtra, he informed. The Prime Minister asserted that the ‘lakhpati didi’ campaign is not just a campaign to make women millionaires, but it is a grand campaign to financially empower the entire family and their next generation.
Due to this activity, the economic cycle of the village was also changing, he noted.Expressing the glory of women in Maharashtra, he elucidated that how Mata Jijau (Jijabai) gave right direction and guidance to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during his formative years, similarly, how Savitribai Phule came forward when women were not treated with respect. “India’s mother power has contributed greatly to society and nation building,” he said. “Among all the women of Maharashtra, I see the imprint of Rajmata Jijau and Savitribai,” he said. While talking about his recent foreign tour, Modi further said, “When I went to Poland, I saw the culture of Maharashtra. The people of Poland respect the people of Maharashtra. There is Kolhapur Memorial in Poland. This memorial has been erected to honour the service and contribution made by the people of Kolhapur.”On spike in incidents of violence against women including minor girls across the country and aggressive stance taken by the opposition on this, the Prime Minister commented on oppression of women for the first time saying, “Our (BJP) government is tightening the law to give stringent punishment to those who abuse women. We have to remove the oppressive mentality.” “Hospitals, schools, police system, wherever there is negligence, take account. Let the message go up. This sin is unpardonable,” he emphasised. “The governments will come and go. But life should be protected, women’s dignity should be maintained,” added Modi.