Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ongoing G20 Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment in Gandhinagar, Gujarat via a video message on Wednesday.
He said that when women prosper, the world prospers. Their economic empowerment fuels growth and their access to education drives global progress. Their leadership fosters inclusivity and their voices inspire positive change.
The PM said that India was making new strides in women’s empowerment. He cited the example of President Droupadi Murmu, who comes from a humble tribal background but now leads the world’s largest democracy.
He also spoke about how the Indian constitution granted the right to vote and contest polls equally to all citizens, including women.
PM Modi said that the increasing number of women forming self-help groups is a powerful force for change. He apprised the participants how these women manufactured masks and sanitisers, while raising general awareness about infection prevention during the pandemic.
He also said that his government was ensuring access to capital among women for running small businesses, besides providing clean cooking fuel to them.
The Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment under the G20 Indian Presidency, chaired by Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, started in Gandhinagar on Wednesday and will end on Friday.
The event is tipped to draw more than 150 delegates, led by their respective Heads of Delegation from G20 members, invitee countries, and international organisations.
Further, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN Women and NIPCCD will jointly organise a side event with support from the Ministry of Women and Child Development to identify the actions and policy levers in three keys areas of fiscal policies and tools for gender equality, the care economy and climate change challenge to accelerate gender equality.
