Accordingly Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's first budget speech specially mentioned the contribution women can make to the Indian economy. Meanwhile Sitharaman is india's first full-time woman Finance Minister after former Prime Minister indira gandhi who briefly held the post in 1970-71.
Furthermore citing increased women participation during Lok Sabha election 2019, the Finance Minister said, "india's women's role and leadership is distinct. Record turnout of women voters has been witnessed, at par with men with 78 women MPs in the house. This re-enforces of going beyond women-centric policies to building women-led initiatives, women entrepreneurship." Sitharaman said that india's growth story, especially in rural economy, was incomplete without greater participation from women. "We can make progress with greater women participation".
Moreover quoting Swami Vivekananda the Finance Minister added, "Swami Vivekananda had said that there is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of woman is improved and it is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing." Further Sitharaman also announced a new government initiative to empower women entrepreneurs. Apparently Sitharaman highlighted that the PM modi led NDA government has also endorsed "women entrepreneurship through several schemes".
