The Interim Budget 2024-25 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday carried a blueprint for continued women-led development as it showcased plans to enhance the target for Lakhpati Didi scheme from 2 crore to 3 crore and increase the disbursal of Mudra Yojana loans beyond 30 crore women.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Budget as development-oriented. “This interim budget is inclusive and innovative. It has confidence in continuity. It will empower all four pillars of Viksit Bharat: Yuva, Garib, Mahila and Kisan. This Budget gives the guarantee of making India a developed nation by 2047,” said Modi.
Elaborating on the Lakhpati Didi scheme targets, the FM said in the House that 83 lakh SHGs with nine crore women are transforming rural socio-economic landscape with empowerment and self-reliance.
“Their success has assisted nearly one crore women to become Lakhpati Didi already. They are an inspiration to others. Their achievements will be recognised through honouring them,” she said, seeking ‘vote on account’ approval of the Parliament through the Appropriation Bill for a part of the financial year 2024-25. The FM said that buoyed by the success, the target for Lakhpati Didi had been enhanced.
The term ‘Lakhpati Didis’ refers to women members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) who harness their entrepreneurial skills and earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per year per household. The scheme is aimed at economic independence and women empowerment.
In her Budget speech, Sitharaman highlighted that the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, ease of living, and dignity for them has gained momentum in the past 10 years.
Thirty crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs. Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28% in 10 years. In STEM courses, girls and women constitute 43% of enrolment – one of the highest in the world. All these measures are getting reflected in the increasing participation of women in workforce, she said in the interim budget ahead of Lok Sabha elections in April-May.
Making ‘Triple Talaq’ illegal, reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies, and giving over 70% houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole or joint owners have enhanced their dignity, said the FM, adding that two crore more houses will be taken up in the next five years to meet the requirement arising from increase in the number of families
She said the worries about food have also been eliminated through free ration for 80 crore people.
Talking about special health schemes for women and girls, the Finance Minister said, “Our government will encourage vaccination for girls in age group of 9 to 14 years for prevention of cervical cancer.”
Sitharaman said various schemes for maternal and child care will be brought under one comprehensive programme for synergy in implementation. Upgradation of anganwadi centres under “Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0” will be expedited for improved nutrition delivery, early childhood care and development.
The newly designed U-WIN platform for managing immunization and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush will be rolled out expeditiously throughout the country, she said.