Govt planning skill training for 2 crore women under 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme

PM Modi said that India can today proudly say that it has the highest number of women pilots, and that women scientists are leading the Chandrayaan Mission.

Women-led development is essential to take the country forward, PM Narendra Modi said during his speech from Red Fort, even as he announced a new scheme – Lakhpati Didi – through which two crore women will be provided skill training so that they can earn over Rs 1 lakh per year. Modi said that India can today proudly say that it has the highest number of women pilots, and that women scientists are leading the Chandrayaan Mission.

“The additional power of women-led development will take the country towards further progress. Today, India can proudly say that if any country in the world has the highest number of women pilots in civil aviation, it’s our nation. Whether it’s Chandrayaan or the moon missions, many women scientists are at the forefront,” Modi said.

He added that when he put forward the matter of women-led development in the G-20, the whole G-20 group acknowledged its importance. He recalled a conversation with a very senior minister of a country he was visiting who asked him if India’s daughters study science and engineering subjects. “I told him that today in my country more daughters than boys are taking up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). It was surprising for him to know that.. This capability of our country is visible today,” Modi said in his speech.

He added that today, more than 10 crore women are associated with Women Self Help Groups. “If you go to a village, you will find women working with banks, you will find women working in Anganwadis, you will find women who provide medicines. Now my dream is to create 2 crore Lakhpati Didis,” PM Modi added.

And, to help create these two crore Lakhpati Didis, Modi said that a new and alternative form of science and technology will be used, Modi said. The women will be given drone pilot training so that technology can be brought into the agriculture sector.

“We will impart training to operate drones, repair drones and the Government of India will provide drones to thousands of such Women Self Help Groups, they will provide training and we will start to make drone services available for our agricultural work, initially we will start with drone flights by 15 thousand Women Self Help Groups,” PM Modi said.