PM talks of Nari Shakti & changed Padma Awards selection process

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi, in his first monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme in 2018, lauded the women achievers saying today women are not just advancing in myriad fields, they are leaders.Today there are many sectors where our woman power is playing a pioneering role establishing milestones, the PM said.

“Our woman power achieved extraordinary feats breaking the age old shackles of social mores, creating new records. They proved that through perseverance, grit and a firm resolve, all kinds of obstacles and barriers can be broken and crossed to chart out an all new path… a path that could act as a beacon of inspiration not just to their contemporaries but for generations to come. A book has been compiled on these women achievers, first ladies, so that, the entire country knows about the power of these women and derive inspiration from their life work,” PM Modi said.

” I would like to refer to a railway station. Matunga station in Mumbai is the first station in India which is run by an all woman staff. All departments have women performing duties… the commercial department, Railway Police, Ticket checking, Announcing, Point persons, it’s a staff comprising over 40 women,” the PM said, according to a PIBrelease.

The PM said this time, after watching the Republic Day Parade, many people wrote on Twitter and other social media that a major highlight of the parade was the BSF biker contingent comprising women participants. Daredevil stunts performed by them was awe inspiring for our foreign guests. Today our Nari Shakti is assuming leadership roles, he said.

He said the tribal women of Chattisgarh have done something extraordinary and set a remarkable example. Dantewada in Chattisgarh is a Maoist infested region.  In this dangerous atmosphere, tribal women are becoming self reliant by driving e-rickshaws.

In a short span of time, a  umber of women have become part of this phenomenon, he said. This has three benefits- on the one hand self-employment has empowered them, on the other, the Maoist infested region is witnessing a transformation. And simultaneously as a consequence, it is strengthening efforts towards protecting the environment, the PM said. He lauded the District Administration which has played a significant role in the successful endeavour of these women by ensuring availability of grants imparting training to them.

“Bihar recently launched an interesting initiative. In order to uproot social ills in the state, the world’s longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed,” the PM said. This campaign made people aware of social maladies such as child-marriage and the dowry system, he said. ” I appreciate the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister, the administration, in fact every member of the human chain for this massive, special initiative towards social welfare,” the PM said.

Referring to ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana’, the PM said it had made healthcare affordable. Medicines available at the Jan Aushadhi Centres are 50% to 90% cheaper than branded drugs available in the market, he said.

The PM also referred to ‘Mission Clean Morna’ involving more than six thousand denizens of Akola, Maharashtra, more than 100 NGOs, Colleges, Students, children, the elderly, mothers, sisters. A lot of garbage was being dumped into the river and along its banks. An action plan was chalked out and on January 13, 2018.

Talking of Padma Awards, the PM said that entire process of selection has been changed during the past three years. ” Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. Many ordinary people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded with Padma citations. Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing,” the PM said.