Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the central government will spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees in the next five years on ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ to deliver potable water at every household across the country. Addressing the state-level Mahila Saksham Melava or Empowered Women’s Meet of Self Help Groups (SHG) organised by Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission (UMED) in Aurangabad, he said that Jal Jeevan Mission has been launched in order to free women from the trouble of having to toil hard to fetch water. He said Jal Jeevan Mission involves saving water and delivering water at one’s doorstep. Mr Modi said that women are playing a vital role in the development of the country and pointed out that due to the SHGs, women are becoming financially independent that will help the country to become strong. He expressed the need to make the SHG movement more powerful in the country.
Speaking about other initiatives for the empowerment of women’s SHGs, the Prime Minister said, “Under MUDRA scheme, one woman in every SHG will get a loan of 1 lakh rupees and this will help them start new ventures and grow their business.
Talking about the Marathwada region which has been experiencing severe drought since last many years, the Prime Minister credited the state government for having taken permanent measures to tackle the situation and lauded the scheme of Marathwada Water Grid initiated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make the region drought-free.