76,000 Women-Led Startups Emerging From Tier 2 And Tier 3 Cities: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that India now has around 76,000 women-led startups, many from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. He said empowered women and youth will shape India’s journey to becoming a developed nation by 2047, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women-led development.

Singh addressed the conference ‘Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women’s Participation’. Bihar’s Rural Development Department, along with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), where Singh serves as Co-Chairperson, organised the event.

He said the Modi government has built its governance over 11 years on four pillars—Poor, Farmers, Youth, and Women. Among these, women have been given top priority.

“Women-centric governance has empowered individuals and transformed society. Welfare schemes have evolved into institutional leadership,” Singh noted.

The Minister launched the Jeevika E-Learning Management System App for women’s training. He also released the publication ‘Shashakt Mahila, Samriddh Bihar’, highlighting women’s role in Bihar’s progress.

Singh outlined a four-phase model for women’s empowerment:

1. The first phase ensured access and inclusion with girls admitted to Sainik Schools and NDA, and combat roles opened to women in the armed forces.
2. The second phase focused on scientific empowerment through schemes like WISE, GATI, CURIE, and the Women Scientist Programme. Patna Women’s College will receive CURIE support for financial and technological growth.
3. The third phase scaled up financial access with 48 crore Jan Dhan accounts for women. Over 60% of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs.
4. The fourth phase introduced workplace reforms like six months of paid childcare leave and pension rights for dependent daughters.

Singh praised Bihar’s 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and urban local bodies. He urged replicating Bihar’s women-centric governance model nationwide.

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