North News
Panipat, December 9
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana,’ a life insurance initiative by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), in Panipat. This move is aligned with the government’s broader commitment to empowering women and ensuring financial inclusion. Modi also laid the foundation stone for the main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister emphasized India’s progress in women’s empowerment, particularly on this auspicious 9th day of December, which marks the worship of ‘Nari Shakti’ (Women Power) during the Navratri festival. He highlighted the significance of the date, recalling that it was on December 9th when the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held, marking the beginning of India’s democratic journey.
The Prime Minister praised Haryana as a land that imparted the knowledge of ethics and religion, coinciding with the celebration of the International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra. He expressed his deep attachment to the state, thanking its people for electing him to power for the third consecutive term. Modi noted the state’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and merit-based recruitment, referencing the success of the government’s recruitment programs.
Modi also reiterated his gratitude towards the women of Haryana for their role in the launch of the Bima Sakhi Yojana, which aims to provide employment opportunities for women in the insurance sector. Recalling the launch of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign in Panipat years ago, he noted its positive impact on the state and the country, saving thousands of daughters’ lives over the past decade.
Further, the Prime Minister stressed that India’s journey towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047 was supported by the energy of women, who are increasingly stepping into new roles in various sectors, including the military, police, and corporate leadership. He highlighted the presence of women-led agricultural cooperatives and noted the increase in maternity leave as key milestones of empowerment.
He underscored that the foundation of the Bima Sakhi programme had been built on years of hard work, noting that access to banking services for women had expanded significantly, with 30 crore women benefiting from the Jan Dhan Yojana. This initiative has enabled women to receive benefits directly, such as subsidies, funds for setting up businesses, and support for rural schemes like Mudra Yojana.
