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India is changing, and so are its women: FM Sitharaman in US

IANS April 22, 2025 258 views

India is experiencing a transformative phase in women's empowerment through strategic government initiatives. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted multiple programs supporting women's financial and social progress during her Stanford University address. Key measures include extended maternity leaves, increased bank deposit rates, and property registration benefits for women. These initiatives reflect the Modi government's commitment to creating more inclusive and supportive environments for women across India.

"India is changing, and so are Indian women" - Nirmala Sitharaman"
India is changing, and so are its women: FM Sitharaman in US
New Delhi, April 22: As the Indian government launches several measures to enhance women's safety, health and financial independence, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her address at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in the US, said that India is changing, and so are Indian women.

Key Points

1

Maternity leave extended to six months under Modi's guidance

2

Property registration benefits for women

3

Increased bank deposit rates for women's financial security

For working women, maternity leaves have been increased to six months on the insistence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, FM Sitharaman told the gathering.

"Two years ago, we came up with a scheme where we increased interest rates on deposits made by women to 7.5 per cent to encourage women to keep their savings in banks rather than keeping that as cash at homes," she mentioned during her keynote address, titled 'Laying the foundations for a developed India #ViksitBharat by 2047'.

FM Sitharaman further stated that property registration in the name of women has tax concessions, and under the Poshan Scheme, the nutritional needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers are being met.

"Under PM Awas Yojana, registration of pucca houses is done either in the name of a woman or jointly with that of a male member," the Union Minister highlighted.

Earlier, the minister met Thomas Kurian, Chief Executive Officer of Google Cloud and his team in San Francisco. They discussed the transformative evolution of India's digital infrastructure under the Digital India initiative in recent years, positioning the country as a global leader in digital adoption.

Kurian acknowledged and appreciated India's AI Mission, and the trajectory India is taking under the leadership of PM Modi and called for connecting India to the world via land and sea cables.

He said that Google Cloud aims to operate entirely on carbon-free energy at its data centres and offices worldwide by 2030 and spoke about the upcoming investment strategy that the group is working on for India.

The Finance Minister encouraged them to explore local linkages in India for territorial collaboration and build tech for India and the world as part of the 'Make In India' initiative.

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
This is such positive news! As a working mother, the extended maternity leave makes a huge difference. More power to Indian women! 💪
R
Rahul S.
While these initiatives are commendable, I hope the government ensures proper implementation at grassroots level. Many rural women still don't have access to basic banking facilities.
A
Ananya M.
The 7.5% interest rate for women's savings is brilliant! My grandmother always kept cash at home - showing her this might finally convince her to use banks 😊
S
Sanjay P.
Interesting to see the digital infrastructure discussion with Google. India's tech transformation is real - my small business has benefited so much from UPI and digital payments.
M
Meera T.
The property registration in women's names is a game-changer! My mother was able to buy land last year thanks to these tax benefits. More families should take advantage of this.
V
Vikram D.
The Poshan Scheme is crucial for maternal health. I work with an NGO in rural MP and have seen firsthand how proper nutrition changes outcomes for mothers and babies.

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Tags:
Nirmala Sitharaman Women Empowerment India Development Digital Infrastructure PM Modi Stanford University
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