New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday cited the government’s slew of women-centric schemes, claiming that only a society that elevates women and creates opportunities for them can progress.

Speaking on ‘Sashakt Nari-Viksit Bharat’, Prime Minister Modi said that his third term will write a new chapter in the rise of women’s power, exuding confidence to retain power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Slamming the previous governments, he said the lives and difficulties of women were not their priority and the BJP had launched different initiatives to help them at all stages of life.

PM Modi said he was the first Prime Minister to speak about a range of issues related to women, including lack of toilets, adverse effects of smoke from the use of sanitary napkins, kitchen fuels such as wood and coal, and the need for women to open bank accounts. The walls of the Red Fort, a reference to his Independence Day speech.

Parties like the Congress made fun of him and insulted him because of it, he said.

He claimed that what he saw in his home, neighbors and villages during his travels shaped his feelings and plans for women.

Prime Minister Modi said that more than Rs 8 billion has been released to women under various government schemes.

He said that so far, more than 100 lakh women have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.

The Prime Minister said his experience was that a little help to women can make them a help to others.

Politicians who only care about family will never understand this, he said.

Under the “Sashakt Nari-Viksit Bharat” scheme, Modi released about Rs 8,000 crore in bank loans to self-help groups (SHGs).

He interacted with women beneficiaries from across the country and inquired about various aspects of their work and appreciated their efforts and determination.

Prime Minister Modi also congratulated the “Lakhpati Didis” for their success under the “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission” and supported the progress of other self-help group members.

During the event, he handed over drones to 1,000 “Namo Drone Didis”, women selected to operate drones for agricultural and related purposes.

He also paid capitalization support fund of about Rs 2,000 crore to SHG.

The Prime Minister’s Office had earlier said in a statement that the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ and ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiatives are integral to the Prime Minister’s vision to promote women’s economic empowerment and financial autonomy, especially in rural areas.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)