Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 8: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday showcased the remarkable strides made by women over the past eleven years, thanks to a slew of initiatives rolled out by the Narendra Modi government to uplift “Nari Shakti” across the country.
Marking “11 Years of Sashakt Nari,” Sitharaman underscored that under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the world’s largest financial inclusion program, over 55% of the account holders are women. This, she emphasized, signifies a profound shift towards empowering women at the grassroots.
She noted that women now represent 68% of beneficiaries under the MUDRA loan scheme, which has enabled countless women to establish small businesses and become self-reliant entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, 74% of entrepreneurs benefitting from the Start-Up India scheme are women, she said, celebrating the increased participation of women in the country’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Similarly, she highlighted that 73% of the houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) are owned by women—a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing women’s security and dignity.
Turning to the Ujjwala Yojana, Sitharaman emphasized that 10 crore LPG connections have been provided to women from low-income households. This initiative has not only reduced indoor air pollution but has also liberated women from the drudgery of collecting firewood and cooking with harmful fuels.
The Finance Minister also pointed out the success of the Jan Dhan scheme in driving financial inclusion. The average bank balance per account rose from Rs 1,065 in 2015 to Rs 4,352 by March 2025, with approximately 80% of the accounts remaining active.
She highlighted that nearly 66.6% of Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas, with women accounting for 55.7% of all account holders. Despite the scheme allowing zero-balance accounts, only 8.4% of the accounts currently hold no funds—showing widespread engagement and usage.
Reflecting on the government’s focus since its inception, Sitharaman noted that in 2014, the Modi administration set an ambitious goal: to ensure financial and banking services reach every Indian, no matter how remote. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, launched on August 28, 2014, played a pivotal role in opening bank accounts for even the most marginalized, laying the groundwork for an empowered and financially included India.