Crimes against women are “unpardonable”, PM Narendra Modi asserted and urged every state govt to take strict action. “The security of women is very important… Not only must the culprit be sternly punished for committing such crimes, but all those who try to protect them must be dealt with an iron hand,” he said at a ‘Lakhpati Didi’ convention in north Maharashtra’s Jalgaon.
Although he didn’t refer to any specific case, his remarks hold weight following the recent rape-murder of a postgraduate resident doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and the rape of two minor girls in Maharashtra’s Badlapur, both of which sparked nationwide outrage.
Modi expressed empathy for the anger and pain felt by women across the country. He warned that police, doctors, and school representatives protecting culprits should not be spared. “A message must go from top to bottom that such acts will not be tolerated,” he said.
Modi also underlined the responsibility of state govts, political parties and society to prevent crimes against women. “Govts will come and go but crime against women must be tackled with an iron hand at all costs,” he said.
PM Modi assured that the Centre is ready to support state govts in addressing such crimes.
The PM highlighted new provisions in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that ensure tough penalties for crimes against women, including hanging and life imprisonment. “In my mission of Viksit Bharat, the country’s women are playing an important role and hence, there is a need to further empower them. But there is also a simultaneous need to ensure their safety and security,” the PM said.
The event organised by Maharashtra govt honoured women under the Union govt’s Lakhpati Didi scheme, which recognises self-help group (SHG) members who earn an annual household income of Rs 100,000 or more. Modi handed certificates to 11,00,000 new Lakhpati Didis and released fund of £250 mn for 48,00,000 SHG members. Bank loans worth £500 mn were disbursed to benefit over 25,00,000 SHG members.
Modi said the Lakhpati Didi scheme is designed to make women financially stable. “Compare the work done by the opposition in 60 years and the initiatives that our govt had taken in one decade. Till 2014, the central govt had given bank loans to Sakhi Mandals amounting to £2.5 bn. In contrast, our govt has given bank loans of £90 bn,” he said.
