15% of desi unicorns have at least one woman founder: PM Modi | India News

NEW DELHI: Emphasising that economic empowerment of women fuels growth, PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted that at 1.4 million, 46% of elected representatives in India’s rural local bodies are women, and an increasing number of women joining self-help groups has also been a powerful force for change.

In his virtual address to the G20 ministerial conference on women empowerment at Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat, he also highlighted that during the pandemic, SHGs and elected women representatives at the grassroots emerged as “pillars of support” for communities. He further highlighted that around 70% of loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have been sanctioned to women. These loans of up to Rs 10 lakhs are given to support micro-level units.
The PM highlighted that 15% of India’s unicorn startups have at least one woman founder, with a total wealth of $40 billion. Nearly, 80% of ‘Stand-Up India’ beneficiaries are women who secured bank loans for greenfield projects.

“When women prosper, the world prospers. Their economic empowerment fuels growth. Their access to education drives global progress. Their leadership fosters inclusivity. And, their voices inspire positive change. The most effective way to empower women is through a women-led development approach. India is making strides in this direction,” the PM said. He also mentioned that under India’s G20 presidency, a new working group on women empowerment is being established.
He asserted that “our goal should be to create a level platform where women achievers become the norm. We must work to remove the barriers that restrict their access to markets, global value-chains, and affordable finance. At the same time, we need to ensure that the burden of care and domestic work is appropriately addressed.”
The PM cited how President Droupadi Murmu sets an inspiring example herself. “She comes from a humble tribal background. But now leads the world’s largest democracy and serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s second largest defence force,” he said.