In a fervent address addressing the rising tide of violence against women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to enforcing stringent measures against offenders and ensuring justice. Speaking at the Lakhpati Didi event in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, on August 25, 2024, Modi assured that his government is resolute in its mission to combat such crimes and that those guilty of such heinous acts "will not be spared."
The Prime Minister's comments come in the wake of significant public outcry over high-profile cases of sexual violence, including the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor, the Badlapur school sex abuse scandal, and the gangrape incident in Assam. Modi condemned these acts as "unforgivable sins" and underscored the need for a unified societal and governmental effort to safeguard the dignity and security of women.
Modi highlighted several key initiatives introduced by his administration to strengthen legal protections and enhance the justice system for survivors of violence. Notably, he mentioned the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a comprehensive legal framework aimed at improving the efficiency of the justice system. The BNS introduces several reforms, including the provision for e-FIRs, allowing victims to file complaints online. This system is designed to prevent alterations or tampering with the reports, ensuring a more transparent and accessible process for justice.
The Prime Minister also addressed issues related to crimes occurring within marriage, revealing specific amendments to the BNS designed to address such concerns. He reassured that the central government remains steadfast in its support for state governments to effectively tackle these crimes. Modi's government has introduced various amendments and new systems to make justice more accessible and effective, aiming to improve overall legal responses to such offenses.
Modi took the opportunity to compare his government's achievements with those of previous administrations, asserting that the Modi government has made unprecedented strides in advancing women's safety and welfare. "Keep the seven decades of previous governments on one side and put 10 years of the Modi government on the other scale... The amount of work that the Modi government has done for the sisters and daughters of the country, no government has done after Independence," he declared.
During the event, which celebrated the accomplishments of women from self-help groups, Modi interacted with ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ women who have achieved an annual income of Rs 1 lakh through their entrepreneurial endeavors. He honored 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis and announced the disbursement of bank loans amounting to Rs 5,000 crore, benefiting 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh self-help groups (SHGs). Since the initiative’s inception, over one crore women have participated, and the government has set an ambitious target to expand this number to 3 crore.
Modi lauded the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government for its focus on empowering women and fostering economic development, referring to it as a "Mahayuti government" dedicated to progress and prosperity.
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