Appreciating women's role during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the way the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across the country have served the nation during the pandemic by producing masks and sanitisers and creating awareness about the infection was unprecedented.

Modi, speaking virtually at an event promoting women’s self-reliance, said there were over 420 million Jan Dhan bank accounts out of which 55 per cent are held by women.

At the event, Modi congratulated the women SHGs and said, "I congratulate our sisters, who along with giving a better life to their families, have helped in the development of the country too."

"In a bid to further motivate Self Help Groups, they will now get loans worth ₹ 20 lakh - double the amount it was. The regulatory framework has also been reduced," he said.

While interacting with the members of the women SHGs, Modi also mentioned that the government was promoting "Made in India" toys and motivated the SHGs to sell their products through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.

"With the right packaging, you can send your product to cities by forming ties with online companies. The government has also started the GeM portal. You can sell your products to the government as well via this portal."

"Women SHGs, to mark the 75th year of Independence, can take out 75 hours in the entire year and do swachhta (cleanliness)works and water conservation works, which will help the society at large," he added.

According to ANI, Modi interacted with women SHG members, promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), through video conferencing.(SAM)