Believing in her strength, putting her at the centre of the nation’s story

In 2001, while serving as Gujarat's Chief Minister, Narendra Modi opted for an unconventional ritual by selecting Ravina Jadav, a Dalit girl from a slum, to carry the sacred kalash. Modi firmly believed that dignity should not be confined to the powerful, and that the marginalized should be brought to the forefront. He emphasized that women's empowerment involved creating an environment where a girl could grow into a confident citizen, with her basic needs met and the tools to reach for the sky.

Modi's tenure in Gujarat laid the groundwork for a nationwide approach, with various states adopting similar schemes, including those led by political opponents. Upon becoming Prime Minister, Modi's focus on women was evident in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which provided crores of women with their first bank accounts, and the MUDRA scheme, where 68% of beneficiaries were women.

He also launched initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Poshan Abhiyan, aiming to increase girls' participation in STEM fields and improve nutrition. The NaMo Drone Didi scheme gave agricultural drones to women's self-help groups, and the Stand-Up India scheme benefited more than 75% of women entrepreneurs. Modi's government granted permanent commissions to women in the armed forces, admitted them to the National Defence Academy, and inducted them into combat roles.

Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh became India's first woman fighter pilot to qualify as a flying instructor. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, reserving a third of Parliament seats for women, was passed under his leadership. Despite Opposition criticism, Modi's government saw women in significant roles, from Parliament to the executive branch, the battlefield, and the boardroom.

For Modi, symbolism always carried substance, exemplified by his temporary transfer of his social media accounts to seven women achievers on International Women's Day.