New Delhi: Financially empowered women are a “bulwark against societal evils”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while interacting with more than one crore women associated with various self-help groups across the country through his mobile App.

“For women empowerment financial independence is necessary… it makes them assertive and empowered. Financially empowered women are a bulwark against societal evils,” he said, adding that since 2014 the government has created 20 lakh self-help groups on priority.