Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the transformative role women have played in India’s development over the past 11 years, crediting the Narendra Modi government’s initiatives for empowering Nari Shakti across financial, entrepreneurial, and social spheres. She highlighted several programs that have strengthened economic independence and uplifted millions of women across the country.
Speaking on “11 years of Sashakt Nari,” the Finance Minister pointed to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the world’s largest financial inclusion scheme, where women hold 55.7 percent of the accounts. She stressed that this surge in female account ownership reflects growing financial empowerment at the grassroots level.
She also noted that women make up 68 percent of all MUDRA loan beneficiaries nationwide, enabling millions to step into entrepreneurship. The success of these loans has fueled economic participation, allowing women to build independent businesses and drive economic growth.
The Finance Minister emphasized that 74 percent of beneficiaries under the Start-Up India entrepreneurs scheme are women, demonstrating their increasing presence in India’s innovation ecosystem. Similarly, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) for the rural poor, 73 percent of homes are owned by women, providing them with greater financial security and stability.
Further illustrating the impact of women-centered welfare policies, Sitharaman highlighted that 10 crore LPG connections have been provided to women under the Ujjwala Yojana, relieving them from health hazards posed by traditional cooking methods, such as burning wood and cow dung. She hailed this initiative as a monumental step in improving the quality of life for women in economically disadvantaged households.
Discussing the continued success of Jan Dhan accounts, she pointed out that the average account balance has increased from Rs 1,065 in March 2015 to Rs 4,352 today, reflecting greater financial engagement. Currently, 80 percent of these accounts remain active, proving their relevance in daily financial transactions.
With 66.6 percent of Jan Dhan accounts opened in rural and semi-urban areas, Sitharaman reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that banking services reach every corner of the country. Among these accounts, 55.7 percent belong to women, demonstrating their growing participation in formal financial systems.
Although the scheme permits zero-balance accounts, she noted that only 8.4 percent of Jan Dhan accounts have zero balance, signaling greater financial discipline and sustained engagement among account holders.
Sitharaman reflected on the Modi government’s early vision, which, upon coming to power in 2014, prioritized universal access to banking and financial services for every citizen. This led to the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on August 28, 2014, a scheme that has since revolutionized financial inclusion in India.
Her remarks reaffirm the government’s focus on women-led development, ensuring policies continue to support economic empowerment, financial independence, and social welfare, strengthening their role as key drivers of India’s progress.
