 "How women’s security and advancement was a key theme in Modi’s I-Day speech")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done it again. Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort, PM Modi delivered his longest speech — 98 minutes long — during which he reasserted the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
He stated that ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is more than just a phrase for a speech; it represents a significant commitment and effort. “If 40 crore people can break shackles of slavery to gain freedom, just imagine what can be achieved by the resolve of 140 crore people,” he said.
However, PM Modi dedicated a significant period of his speech to one crucial section of Indian society: women, focusing on their safety and their empowerment.
We take a closer look at how Modi batted for women’s advancement through his Independence Day speech .
Batting for women’s safety
Standing at the ramparts of Red Fort , Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the outrage that is prevalent in society over atrocities against women. He was referencing the nation-wide protests that have broken out over the brutal rape-murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Without mentioning the incident directly, PM Modi said, “Cases of crime against women should be investigated and those responsible should be punished without delay.”
The PM also added that the country is angry over it. “I would like to express my pain once again, from the Red Fort today. As a society, we will have to think seriously about the atrocities against women that are happening — there is outrage against this in the country. I can feel this outrage. The country, society, and state governments will have to take this seriously. Speedy investigation of crimes against women, those executing these monstrous deeds be awarded strict punishment at the earliest.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe also highlighted the importance to create a “fear of consequences of rape”. He said it is important for people to speak about actions taken against rapists so that it can act as a deterrent. “When the case of rape happens, media discusses the case at length, but when these perpetrators are brought to the books, there is very little discussion on the same. We need to speak about the action taken on such criminals so that it can act as a deterrent,” he said.
It is important to note that Modi’s speech came just hours after unidentified miscreants vandalised parts of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday night. The ensuing chaos has resulted in the emergency ward being completely destroyed, said a police official. Cops had to fire tear gas shells and used lathi-charge to disperse the miscreants.
Empowering women
Besides the topic of women’s safety, Prime Minister Modi also spoke of how his government has worked hard to empower women in the country.
“We have worked on a women-led development model. Whether it is innovation, employment, entrepreneurship, in every sector women are marching ahead,” Modi said in his Independence Day speech, adding, “Look at the defence sector — Air Force, Army, Navy — space sector we are seeing the strength of women everywhere.”
He spoke about how in the last ten years, 10 crore women have joined self-help groups, which is helping them become financially independent. “Financially independent women can contribute to household decisions, leading to positive social changes. So far, we have provided Rs 9 lakh crores to these self-help groups.”
During his 96-minute long speech, Modi also spoke of the ‘ Lakhpati Didi ’ scheme, announcing that the government plans to allocate between Rs 10 and 20 lakh to these groups.
A fair society for women
In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi also batted for a more just society for women. He called for discussions on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the country, saying that it needed to be “secular” and not “discriminatory”.
Referring to the Uniform Civil Code during the Independence Day speech, Modi said: “A large section of the country believes, and it is true, that the civil code that we are living with is actually a communal civil code. I would say that it is the need of the hour that there be a secular civil code in the country… Only then would we be free of the discrimination on the basis of religion.”
Modi’s BJP is of the firm opinion that the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code would bring about a change in the condition of women in society, making them more equal.
Moreover, in his speech, PM Modi also referred to how his government has extended maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks in order to remove a hindrance for working mothers. He said that his government doesn’t just respect women but also takes decisions to make sure that all the requirements of working mothers.
“For working women, maternity leave has been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. We not only just respect women, we not only make decisions for her sensitively, we make decisions to ensure that the government does not become a hindrance to the requirements of the mother to make her child a quality citizen,” the PM said.
Women in India
In December 2023, when parties were preparing for the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that he considered women, youth, farmers and the poor as the “biggest castes” in the country and that only their upliftment would drive the development of the country.
And from Modi’s Independence Day speech, it is evident that he continues to maintain this stance.
In India, women make up 68 per cent of the roughly 140 crore population, as per projections based on the 2011 Census. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), 20.3 per cent of urban women are part of the workforce between January and March, compared to 58 per cent of men.
Moreover, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reveals that 71.5 per cent of women were literate in 2019-21 compared to 84.4 per cent of men.
Here’s hoping that this Independence Day, women soar higher in India and are granted freedom from fear of being oppressed and marginalised.
With inputs from agencies
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