Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented these declarations specifically for women

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024, highlighting the top priorities of the PM Narendra Modi-led BJP government and focusing on the needs of the impoverished, women, youth, and farmers.

• Sitharaman emphasized the empowerment of women over the past decade through entrepreneurship, improved living conditions, and enhanced dignity.
• Key points showcasing women's empowerment include the distribution of 30 crore Mudra Yojana loans to women entrepreneurs, a 28% increase in female enrollment in higher education since 2014, and 43% enrollment in STEM courses, among the highest globally.

• Additionally, over 17% of houses under the PM Awas Yojana in rural areas were allotted to women as sole or joint owners.
• Sitharaman highlighted the transformation brought about by 83 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) with 9 crore women, leading to socio-economic empowerment and self-reliance.
• The success of the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme prompted the government to raise the target from 2 crore to 3 crore.
• However, there's a perceived gap in linking rural women entrepreneurs with targeted credit and addressing challenges faced by urban working women, including affordable childcare, safe transport, and overcoming biases in recruitment.
• Sitharaman pledged to encourage vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 to prevent cervical cancer and announced plans to consolidate various maternal and childcare schemes for improved implementation synergy.
• Expressing optimism, Sitharaman hoped that the government's effective policies and initiatives would contribute to the BJP's return to power for the third consecutive term.

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