The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Jalgaon, Maharashtra today. He handed out certificates and felicitated 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis who recently became Lakhpati during the third term of the present government. The Prime Minister also interacted with Lakhpati Didis from across the country. Shri Modi released a Revolving Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, benefiting about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHG). He also disbursed bank loans of Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs. Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yoajna, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis and the government has set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis.

The Prime Minister began his address by expressing gratitude towards the huge crowd of mothers and sisters who were present on the occasion. Expressing happiness over the attendance of a huge crowd of mothers and sisters at the mega event of Lakhpati Didi Sammelan, Shri Modi said, “Today, funds of more than Rs 6000 Crore were disbursed for lakhs of Women SHGs spanning across India”. He added that this corpus of funds will bolster many women to transform into ‘Lakhpati Didis’. The PM also extended his best wishes.

Prime Minister Shri Modi underlined that the mothers and sisters of Maharashtra give a glimpse of the glorious culture and traditions of the state. Underlining that the Lakhpati Didi campaign is not just a way to boost the income of mothers and sisters but a mega campaign to strengthen the family and future generations, the Prime Minister said that it is transforming the rural economy. “Every woman present here knows that her social position in society is elevated when she starts to make a living”, the Prime Minister exclaimed, noting that the purchasing power of a family also goes up with an increase in income. “Fortunes of an entire family are transformed when one sister becomes Lakhpati Didi”, he added.

Noting the contributions of women today in making India the third-largest economy in the world, Prime Minister Modi pointed out the neglect towards the development of women in the past. He mentioned that crores of women in the country did not own any property which caused a major hindrance in availing bank loans to start small businesses. “Therefore”, the Prime Minister said, “I pledged to reduce the burden on women, and the Modi Government took decisions in the interest of women one after the other.” Drawing parallels from the 10 years of the present government with the seven decades of previous governments, the Prime Minister remarked that the present government did more work in the interest of women than any other previous governments of the past.

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the program being held to honour Lakhpati Didi. Shri Chouhan praised the Didi for attending the program in large numbers despite heavy rain. He said, "I bow down to the enthusiasm and love of the sisters."

Shri Shivraj Singh said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's resolve is that no sister should be helpless, no sister's eyes should shed tears, and there should always be a smile on her face. To achieve this, Shri Modi has launched the Lakhpati Didi campaign. The Minister said that he is proud to say that due to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's resolve, one crore Lakhpati Didi have already been made. Today, 11 lakh Didi are receiving the Lakhpati Didi certificate at 30,000 locations, and one and a half crore Didi are connected to the program. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that 11 lakh Didi will be made Lakhpati in 100 days, but 11 lakh Lakhpati Didi have already been made before 100 days. Shri Singh said, he is confident that with the blessings of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, 3 crore Lakhpati Didi will be made.

Shri Chouhan said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said from the Red Fort that he will work with three times the strength to build a developed India. The Minister said I want to tell you only one thing to my sisters and brothers, let's take a pledge to work with double the strength to fulfill the Prime Minister's resolve. He said that the sisters who have become lakhpatis will make other sisters lakhpatis and we will not leave any stone unturned in making the Prime Minister's dream of building poverty-free villages a reality. Shri Chouhan said that this is the time to take a pledge. He said that You all raise both your hands and take this pledge that if Prime Minister works with three times the strength, then we will work with double the hard work and make the sisters lakhpatis and also build a developed India'.

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