New Delhi: Former Union minister Smriti Irani, speaking at TV9 Network’s What India Thinks Today Global Summit 2025, announced a new initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to become crorepatis. She highlighted the success of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed her vision to take it to the next level.
Irani, who is now leading the Alliance for Global Good, said, “Our aim is to go beyond financial independence and enable women to achieve significant financial success. If we have been able to make thousands of women lakhpatis, why not crorepatis?” She emphasised that this will particularly focus on women whose businesses have a turnover of over Rs 20 lakh, helping them scale up their enterprises.
Journey of struggle and triumph
During her speech, Irani also shared a personal anecdote, recalling the struggles of her maternal grandfather. She mentioned that when she won the Amethi constituency in the 2019 general elections, she dedicated her victory to him, who had faced severe hardships, including an injury that left him limping for life. “His struggles have always inspired me to push forward,” she said.
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Not a politician, but a social worker
Talking about her political journey, Irani emphasised that she never considered herself a politician. “As they say, a crooked tail never straightens. My aim has always been social service rather than politics,” she said.
Concern over language extinction
Irani also spoke about India’s linguistic diversity, stating that over 400 languages in the country have become extinct. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula, she stressed the importance of education in the mother tongue. “STEM education in the mother tongue is crucial. Globally, developed nations prioritise native-language education, and we must do the same,” she said.
She further added, “It does not matter which language we speak; all Indian languages hold equal importance.”
