Panipat, Haryana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’, an innovative initiative by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) aimed at empowering women and enhancing financial inclusion, during an event in Panipat, Haryana. The occasion also saw the laying of the foundation stone for the main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal.
Addressing a large gathering, PM Modi emphasized the significance of the date—December 9—as auspicious, correlating it with the worship of Nari Shakti (women’s power) during Navratri and the inaugural meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on the same date in 1946.
Highlighting the transformative potential of women’s empowerment, the Prime Minister noted that the Bima Sakhi Yojana will provide employment opportunities to 2 lakh women over the next three years. Women aged between 18 and 70 years, with at least a 10th-grade education, will be trained and offered financial support under the program. Each Bima Sakhi will receive a monthly stipend—₹7,000 in the first year, ₹6,000 in the second, and ₹5,000 in the third—along with commission-based earnings from securing insurance policies.
The scheme aims to uplift rural and urban women, enabling them to serve as career agents and contribute to the expansion of India’s insurance sector. The Prime Minister emphasized that these efforts align with the broader goal of achieving “Insurance for All”, ensuring social security and eradicating poverty.
Reiterating his deep connection with Haryana, PM Modi recalled launching the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign from Panipat nearly a decade ago. He lauded the state’s progress in improving the lives of thousands of daughters, crediting Haryana’s commitment to empowering women and ensuring their participation in all spheres of life.
Referring to Haryana as a land of cultural and spiritual heritage, the Prime Minister also acknowledged the ongoing International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra and praised the state’s mantra of ‘Ek hain to Safe hain’ as a national example of unity and harmony.
The Prime Minister highlighted the remarkable achievements of self-help groups (SHGs) across India, noting that 10 crore women are now associated with these initiatives. Over the past decade, SHGs have received more than ₹8 lakh crore in financial assistance, transforming rural economies and fostering social justice.
PM Modi also recounted his announcement to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis—women earning over ₹1 lakh annually—under the SHG Abhiyaan. So far, over 1.15 crore women have achieved this milestone, contributing significantly to India’s economic growth.
The event also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Haryana’s educational and agricultural landscape with the foundation of the Maharana Pratap Horticultural University campus in Karnal. PM Modi expressed confidence that the university would play a vital role in advancing modern horticulture practices and empowering the youth of Haryana.
Additionally, he praised the state government for its corruption-free job initiatives and the support extended to farmers, including ₹14,000 crore in Minimum Support Price (MSP) payments for paddy, millet, and moong farmers in its third term.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was present at the event, underscored the rising participation of women in the insurance sector. She highlighted that LIC’s women agents have increased from 6 lakh in 2017 to 7.45 lakh in 2023, with the Bima Sakhi Yojana expected to further boost their numbers.
“The initiative will create opportunities for women to enhance their incomes significantly through commissions and stipends while expanding financial literacy and insurance coverage,” she said.