Empowering women is empowering entire household: PM Modi

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Feb 24 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed on the importance of empowering women for the development of household.

While launching the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme on the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai, the Prime Minister said that when a woman's future is secured; her entire family is also secured.

The scheme, which aims at providing 50 percent subsidy to all the working women to buy two-wheelers, was a pet project of Jayalalithaa.

"When we empower women in a family, we empower the entire household. When we educate a woman, we ensure her family is educated. When we facilitate her good health, we help keep the family healthy. When we secure her future, we secure future of the entire home," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said that he is glad to launch the Amma's dream project - the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme.

"I am glad to be able to launch one of her dream projects- the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme. I am told that on Amma's 70th birthday, 70 lakh plants will be planted across Tamil Nadu. These initiatives will go a long way in the empowerment of women and protection of nature," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister further said that with the change in Factory's Act, women are now allowed to work in night shifts as well.

"We made a change in the Factory's Act and suggested States to allow women to work in night shifts as well. We also extended maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. Under the PM Awaas Yojana, the registry of the house is done in the name of the woman," PM Modi

PM Modi further took a jibe at Congress by saying, "When there was a Congress-led Government at the Centre, Tamil Nadu had received Rs 81,000 crore under the 13th Finance Commission. After the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power, this state received Rs 1,80,000 crore under the 14th Finance Commission." (ANI)