JALGAON: Crimes against women are “unpardonable,” PM Narendra PM Modi asserted Sunday 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 PG resident doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and the rape of two minor girls in Badlapur. Both sparked nationwide outrage.
PM Modi expressed his 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 (
crime against women
) will not be tolerated, PM Modi said. He 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. He assured that Centre is ready to support state govts in addressing such crimes.
PM PM Modi highlighted new provisions in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that ensure tough penalties for crime 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 Union govt’s Lakhpati Didi scheme, which recognises self-help group (SHG) members who earn an annual household income of Rs 1 lakh or more. PM Modi handed certificates to 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis and released a revolving fund of Rs 2,500 crore for 48 lakh SHG members. Bank loans worth Rs 5,000 crore were disbursed to benefit over 25 lakh SHG members.
PM Modi said Lakhpati Didi scheme is designed to make women financially stable. “Compare the work done by opposition in 60 years and initiatives that our govt had taken in one decade. Till 2014, Centre had given bank loans to Sakhi Mandals amounting to Rs 25,000 crore. In contrast, our govt gave bank loans of Rs 9 lakh crore,” he said.
“The state is playing an important role in our Viksit Bharat initiative. Mahayuti govt should remain in office for a long time. It is stable and capable of attracting investments to promote industrialisation, employment generation, and give adequate focus on education and skill development of youth,” he said.