PM Backs Women’s Inclusion, Unveils ₹1 Lakh Cr Urban Fund

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for greater inclusion of women in the workforce, stressing the need to reform laws and policies to enable their active participation in India’s growth journey. Chairing the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, the Prime Minister highlighted the power of ‘Nari Shakti’ and said both public and private sectors must enhance ease of working for women.

“Laws should be shaped in a way that they empower women to step forward and contribute to nation-building. We must change with the times to unlock the full potential of our demographic dividend,” he told chief ministers and lieutenant governors of 24 states and 7 union territories attending the meeting.

The PM also announced the setting up of a ₹1 lakh crore 'Urban Challenge Fund' to provide seed capital for transformative development in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, calling them the next engines of growth. He urged states to build at least one world-class tourist destination each to boost tourism and local economies.

With global investors showing keen interest in India, Modi asked states to leverage recent trade deals with UAE, UK, and Australia. He also stressed the need for skilling youth in emerging areas like AI, 3D printing, and semiconductors, noting that India could become the world’s skill capital.

In a significant move, he announced a ₹60,000 crore national skilling scheme and urged states to create rural hubs and modern training infrastructure.

The PM concluded by reiterating the spirit of “Team India”, saying collective effort and faster execution are key to achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047