PM MODI INVOKES DURGA TO AFFIRM COMMITMENT TO WOMEN’S SAFETY, EMPOWERMENT
Invoking Goddess Durga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s irrevocable commitment to women’s empowerment and safety.
Reaching out to the people of West Bengal during the state’s biggest festival Durga Puja, the PM said though it was being celebrated on a limited scale due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the “enthusiasm is still unlimited”.
Noting that Goddess Durga was worshipped as a symbol of ‘Shakti’ (strength), Modi said his government was consistently working for the empowerment of women.
“From opening Jan Dhan accounts for 22 crore women, giving soft loans to them under the Mudra Yojana, to launching Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative, granting permanent commission to women in the armed forces and extending maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, we have taken a number of steps for their empowerment,” he told a gathering at Durga Puja celebration organised by the BJP.
He also said anti-rape laws were made more stringent to include death penalty.
“We are alert towards the security of women. We have strengthened laws against rape. Now, there is even provision for death penalty to the perpetrators,” he said in his virtual address to the people of the state.
The PM’s remark came in the backdrop of a string of incidents of rape and murder of women, including the Hathras incident that shocked the nation and triggered outrage against the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
Beginning his address in Bengali, PM Modi shared his puja greetings and appealed to the people to adhere to social distancing norms and wear face masks during festivities.