Dr Jitendra addresses Patna congregation, refers to India’s 76,000 women-led StartUps
STATE TIMES NEWS
PATNA: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that India’s march towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be led by empowered women and youth, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Women-Led Development.” Speaking at the one-day conference “Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women’s Participation”, jointly organized by the Bihar Rural Development Department and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Dr. Singh praised Bihar’s significant reforms in advancing women’s empowerment.
Dr. Singh revealed that India currently hosts 1.7 lakh startups, with nearly 76,000 led by women entrepreneurs, many of whom come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. These startups have created over 17 lakh jobs, demonstrating the growing influence of women in shaping the country’s innovation and economic landscape. “This silent revolution, led by first-generation women entrepreneurs and leaders, is rewriting India’s future,” he remarked.
The Minister launched the Jeevika E-Learning Management System App, designed to provide accessible learning opportunities for women, and also unveiled a publication titled “Shashakt Mahila, Samriddh Bihar”, which documents the contributions of women to Bihar’s development.
Highlighting the Modi Government’s comprehensive approach to women empowerment, Dr. Singh outlined four major pillars: Access and Institutional Inclusion, Scientific and Technological Empowerment, Economic and Social Empowerment, and Workplace Reforms and Legal Sensitivity. He noted breakthroughs such as girls’ admission to Sainik Schools and the NDA, women in combat roles, and the likely appointment of India’s first woman Army Chief.
In science and technology, schemes like WISE, GATI, CURIE, and the Women Scientist Programme have enabled women to return to STEM careers. Patna Women’s College will be adopted under the CURIE scheme, furthering Bihar’s leadership in this area.
Dr. Singh also highlighted that over 48 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for women, 60% of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries are women, and more than 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ have emerged through Self-Help Groups. He added that homeownership through PMAY in women’s names is transforming financial and social security at the grassroots.
Workplace reforms, including six-month childcare leave, maternity leave even after stillbirths, and pension rights for unmarried or divorced dependent daughters, reflect the Modi Government’s inclusive and compassionate legal framework.
Dr. Singh lauded women’s growing presence in leadership roles, citing examples like Kalpana of Chandrayaan-3 and Nigar Shaji of Aditya-L1. He noted that over one-third of CSIR labs are now headed by women and that the council has appointed its first woman Director General.
Applauding Bihar’s progressive policies such as 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and urban local bodies, and 35% in police and civil services, Dr. Singh said over 30 lakh women in the state have been financially empowered with support exceeding ?5,000 crore.
He called on IIPA to document Bihar’s successful women-centric governance model into a replicable manual for nationwide implementation. Concluding his remarks, Dr. Singh said, “It is no longer about women’s participation-it is about women-led development. The future belongs to women who lead.”
The event was also attended by Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar, IIPA DG S.N. Tripathi, Jeevika CEO Himanshu Sharma, Development Commissioner Pratyay Amrit, and other senior officials.
