PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he enjoys the blessings of “lakhs of mothers” and described women as his biggest strength and inspiration. Referring to women’s power, the Prime Minister said, irrespective of the field, if women’s representation is increased, success is guaranteed. “Women of new India breaking the glass ceiling,” he cited the example of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Addressing a convention of self-help groups at Karahal in Sheopur district after releasing 3 of the eight cheetahs, PM Modi said his mother would be very much pleased with the outpouring of blessings from women. The PMsaid if he is not occupied with anything important he prefers to celebrate his birthday with his mother, who lives in Gandhinagar, to seek her blessings. “Just now, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar spoke about my birthday. Normally, I don’t remember it. If not engaged with anything important I prefer to seek my mother’s blessings on the occasion; today so many mothers of MP have blessed me, which will make his mother very happy,” Modi told the large gathering of women. Skilling, reskilling & upskilling new mantra for country’s youth, says Modi: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gave the mantra of “Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling” to the country’s youth and exhorted them to innovate and continuously upgrade their skills in line with the evolving times.

 

The PM shared that the Centre is going to open more than 5,000 new ‘Skill Hubs’ to promote skill development in India. In a virtual address to students at the first-ever convocation of (industrial training institutes) ITI students, the PM highlighted that job opportunities in the country are also rising with the advancement of technology. “You will have to upgrade your skills in line with the future. Therefore your mantra should be Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling,” he said, adding that students must keep an eye on the latest developments in their fields. Observing that the first ITI was established in 1950 and around 10,000 ITIs were opened in the country in the following seven decades, the Prime Minister informed that nearly 5,000 new ITIs have been opened in the country during his Government’s tenure in the last eight years. Over 4 lakh seats have been added to the Institutes during this period, he said, adding that experience-based learning is also being encouraged under the New Education Policy. “You all are witnessing how India is taking a lead today in the fields of renewable energy, solar power, electric vehicles. Introduction of courses related to these areas in several ITIs will further facilitate job seekers,” Modi said. Referring to women’s power, the Prime Minister said irrespective of the field, if women’s representation is increased, success is guaranteed. He cited the example of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

 

“Swacch Bharat Abhiyan became successful as it was led by women,” he said. The Prime Minister said his Government has made all kinds of efforts to strengthen women’s SHGs in the last eight years. “Today, over eight crore women are associated with SHGs and the government aims to get at least one woman from each poor family on SHGs,” the PM said. “To ensure the role of women in the rural economy and to explore new possibilities for them, the government is continuously working. Products made by them are being provided to a larger market through the ‘One-district-one-product’ scheme,” PM Modi said. He said September is being observed as the nutrition month and due to India’s efforts, the United Nations has decided to observe 2023 as the year of coarse cereals. The Prime Minister said the Centre has decided to serve at least one dish made from coarse cereals to the visiting foreign dignitaries. He said women’s empowerment ensures that their role in society is also strengthened. Observing that his Government has opened all doors which were earlier closed for women, the Prime Minister said, “Today, daughters are not only taking admission in Sainik schools but are also joining armed forces and becoming commandos”. There has been a massive difference between India in the last century and the present Naya Bharat in the form of women’s power, Modi said. “In the New India, women are flying their flags high from Panchayat Bhawan to Rashtrapati Bhawan,” the PM said apparently referring to Draupadi Murmu joining the office of President in July. “Women all over - mothers and sisters - are my strength and inspiration,” he said. He praised SHGs in Madhya Pradesh for planting 10 lakh saplings on Saturday, which he said, “reflects their commitment towards the environment”.

 

The Prime Minister said SHGs have now become national-level help groups as they are committed to playing an important role in making a developed and aatmanirbhar (self-dependent) India. On the occasion, he launched skill centres for women and handed a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to a woman member of Maruti Nandan SHG. Madhya Pradesh governor Mangu Bhai Patel, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also spoke on the occasion. Chouhan said with the arrival of cheetahs in KNP, land rates have gone by 20-25 times. He said the arrival of cheetahs will generate employment and boost tourism in the area.