Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the “Stand Up India” initiative, which is seen by many as an effort to woo dalits, tribals and women, ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Prad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the “Stand Up India” initiative, which is seen by many as an effort to woo dalits, tribals and women, ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab next year.
These states have a significant population of SCs and STs. The initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among the SCs, STs and women by facilitating loans in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
At a function in Noida organised to mark birth anniversary of dalit leader and former deputy PM Jagjivan Ram, the Prime Minister flagged off 5,100 e-rickshaws.
Mr Modi said that the “Stand Up India” programme will help create 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs throughout the country as every bank branch will be required to provide two such loans, ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore, without collateral for setting up a new enterprise. The PM expressed confidence that the scheme will convert “job-seekers into job-creators... This scheme is going to transform the lives of people from dalit and tribal communities.”
“For how long will our adivasi brothers and sisters, our dalit brothers and sisters, wait for jobs, and to how many people can the government provide jobs If this situation persists, what will happen to people from these sections,” said Mr Modi.
He said that if given opportunity, people from these sections can perform wonders and contribute to nation-building.
