Two Crore 'Lakhpati Didis', Drone Training For Self-Help Groups: PM Modi's Nari Shakti Pitch On I-Day

Modi Independence Day Speech: PM Modi pitched for women-led development, saying Nari Shakti plays an important role in the nation's progress.

In his 10th consecutive Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for getting rid of "three sins", in a jibe at the Opposition, to make India a developed country by 2047 while making a promise to make India among the top three economies in the next five years.

Using the term 'parivaarjan' (family members) to address citizens on India's 77th Independence Day, PM Modi pitched for women-led development, saying Nari Shakti plays an important role in the nation's progress.

The PM, in his 90-minute speech, also announced 'Vishwakarma Yojana' with an outlay of Rs 13,000-15,000 crore for traditional craftsmen and labourers.

Independence Day 2023: PM Modi Speech In Red Fort Highlights

• Training his guns on the Opposition, PM Modi called for getting rid of the three sins of "corruption, nepotism and appeasement". "My government weeded out 10 crore fake beneficiaries of welfare schemes. Seizure of ill-gotten assets rose by 20 times," PM Modi said.


• Pitching the importance of technological advancement in agriculture, PM Modi said 15,000 women self-help groups would be given training to handle and repair drones. "We will train them in operating and repairing drones. Many self-help groups will be provided with drones. These agricultural drones can be utilszed effectively. The initiative will begin with the flight of drones by 15,000 women's self-help groups," PM Modi said.


• PM Modi said the government was continously working with women self-help groups and had a target of two crore "lakhpati didis" in villages. "Today, 10 crore women are associated with women self-help groups. My dream is 2 crore 'lakhpati didi' in villages," he said.


• During his speech, PM Modi harped upon the importance of women-led development. "The one thing that will take the country forward is women-led development. Today, we can proudly say that India has the maximum number of pilots in civil aviation. Women scientists are leading the Chandrayaan mission," PM Modi said.


• Highlighting that more women than men were studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), PM Modi said the G20 nations have also acknowledged India's approach of women-led development.


• Giving a call for 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, when India will mark 100 years of Independence, PM Modi said, "Collective responsibility to promote suchita (probity), pardarshita (transparency), nishpakshta (objectivity) to make India developed."


• Calling it a "Modi guarantee", the Prime Minister said in the coming five years, India would be among the top three economies in the world. 


• With general elections scheduled to be held in 2024, PM Modi said the next five years would witness unprecedented development. "The biggest golden moment to realise the dream of 2047 is the coming five years. The next time, on August 15, from this Red Fort I will present before you the achievements and developments of the country," the PM said before signing off.