World Economic Forum 2023: India has made a case for economic gender justice, says Union Minister Smriti Irani

India has made a case for economic gender justice with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling the world to see women led development, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani told Zee Business Executive Editor Swati Khandelwal in and exclusive interview from the sidelines of World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023.

The five-day event which s being held in Davos, Switzerland ends today.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana - a flagship scheme of the government under which loans of up to Rs 10 lakh are given to non-farm businesses are given – benefitted over 320 million people of which 70 per cent were women.

This was testimony to the fact that no matter how small the business plan was, Indian women had the capability to make business plans and take benefits of the scheme.

Banks and financial institutions give you business loans only when they see a business plan, Irani said and women went to tem to get these loans without collateral.

The banks readily gave the loans to these women, she said adding that the Non Performing Assets (NPAs) are just 1 per cent of the total amount disbursed.

The women always had talent but that had to be serviced with the opportunity which the Modi Government did. He serviced the talent with opportunity and allowed it to grow organically, she said. He did not force that, Irani further said.

With the population of 130 crore, the government has taken several tough steps and the country has responded in equal measure, the woman development minister said.

भारत की मौजूदा नेतृत्व से लोगों का भरोसा बढ़ा: स्मृति ईरानी, महिला एवं बाल विकास मंत्री

देखिए स्मृति ईरानी के साथ स्वाति खंडेलवाल की खास बातचीत @SwatiKJain | @Davos | #ZeeAtDavos | #Davos2023 | #WorldEconomicForum | @smritiirani | @SmritiIraniOffc | @MinistryWCD pic.twitter.com/pN00AnYc60

— Zee Business (@ZeeBusiness) January 19, 2023

Watch Full Interview:

The Ujjwala Yojan where the government gave LPG cylinders to 8 crore women and prior to this 1 crore people gave up their subsidy, Irani said. It was after the PM urged the people to give up subsidy.

The government took it upon itself to provide cylinders by taking a burden of Rs 2 lakh crore.