The role of women is continuously expanding in a changing India, and women’s commissions should also work to promote and recognise women entrepreneurs. He said that the “old thinking’’, which restricted women and their skills to domestic work, needs to change.

While addressing an event marking the 30th foundation day of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Modi said, “Today, in changing India, the role of women is continuously expanding. Therefore, the expansion of the role of the NCW is also the need of the hour. All the women’s commissions of the country will also have to increase their scope and give a new direction to the women of their states.”

Noting that the participation of women in the growth cycle of “new India’’ is increasing, Modi said that “the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) campaign is linking the ability of women with the development of the country."

"The country has seen a threefold increase in the number of women self-help groups in the last 6-7 years. Similarly, in more than 60 thousand startups that have emerged after 2016, 45 percent have at least one woman director,” Modi said.

“Today India is among the countries with provision of maximum maternity leave. Marriage at an early age does not hinder the education and career of daughters so the age of marriage of daughters is being attempted to be raised to 21 years,” he said, alluding to law - which is contested by civil society groups -  by which marriageable age for women, which is at present 18 years, is sought to be brought at par with men.(SAM)