Page 18 - NIS English 01-15 March, 2025

COVER STORY
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S DAY
SPECIAL

STANDUP INDIA, MUDRA SCHEME
WOMEN-LED DEVELOPMENT AS A
MADE THE PATH OF WOMEN GLOBAL AGENDA
ENTREPRENEURS EASY WHILE STARTUP Women-led development as a global
INDIA GAVE A NEW DIRECTION agenda has focused significantly on
women empowerment globally. In this
context, the new Parliament of India, on
83% of beneficiaries of Standup India, which provides
STANDUP INDIA are women. Under the scheme, every bank has been moment for the empowerment of women.
September 20-21, 2023, marked a historic
loans from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for starting a business,
The 33 per cent women reservation bill in
given the target of providing loans between Rs 10 lakh
Parliament and the legislature, which
and Rs 1 crore to at least one woman borrower.
2,15,582
2,59,797
was once considered paramount to
politics and power, was made a reality by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also
Female beneficiaries
Total sanctioned loans
made the occasion special and called a
special session with a special purpose to
Under the Mudra scheme, loans ranging from Rs 50,000 enter the new building of Parliament.
to Rs 20 lakh are given in four categories for self-
MUDRA SCHEME their business activities. 51.67 inauguration of the new Parliament
Now, whenever it comes to the first
employment so that they can establish and expand
70
34.96
House, every Indian, especially the
women, will have their heads held high
%
with pride. The Nari Shakti Vandan Act is
Female
crore Total
not a general law. It is a proclamation of
beneficiaries
sanctioned
beneficiaries
the new democratic commitment of the
loans
are women
new India.
This is a huge and very strong step
INNOVATION AND RESEARCH
towards building a Viksit Bharat from
n The Power Scheme of the Science and Engineering Re-
‘everyone’s effort’ in the Amrit kaal. To
search Board, which promotes opportunities for women
improve the standard of living of women
in exploratory research, was launched in 2020. 97 projects
and to improve the quality of life, a new
were nurtured in research grants, in which 42 fellowships
era of development led by women is
were given to women.
guaranteed to bring to the country. It is
STRONG GENDER BUDGET ON THE PATH OF DEVELOPMENT a direct proof of Prime Minister Modi’s
LED BY WOMEN, INCREASED ALMOST 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS
resolve. There had been an effort to get
4.49 the bill passed for nearly three decades.
2025-26
3.27 There were various obstacles in the
2024-25
2.38 way of this law ensuring reservation for
2023-24
1.71 women, decades-old stumbling blocks,
2022-23
1.53 but when the intention is pure, the
2021-22
efforts are transparent, the troubles are
Note: Figures in lakh crore rupees
overcome, and the goals are achieved.
It’s also a record in itself that the
legislation got such broad support in
the House.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Act will
determine the role of Nari Shakti in the
development of India. The year 2047 will
be a milestone in building a Viksit
Bharat. It will give a new direction to
16 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR // March 1-15, 2025