PM Modi launches ‘Stand Up India’ initiative

Adding to the collective objective of empowering the job seeker to become a job giver, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the Stand up India scheme.  The scheme is designed to help scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and women entrepreneurs, with loans that range from 10 lakh rupees to 1 crore rupees. On the birth anniversary of Dalit icon Babu Jagjivan Ram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Stand-up India scheme, from Noida near Delhi. Prime Minister spent time with a few lucky rickshaw wallahs who would receive e-rickshaws later, and in his own inimitable style had Chai pe charcha with them.  Prime Minister said Dalits, tribals and women on the margins of society should get the opportunity to stand on their feet, and it should not be at anyone's mercy.  Under the scheme, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women entrepreneurs can avail loans between 10 lakh and 1 crore rupees to expand their businesses and create jobs. The scheme aims to create 2.5 lakh Dalit entrepreneurs. Prime Minister also launched a web portal for stand up India, and gave loan papers to proud recipients of the first loans under the scheme. The Prime Minister flagged off 5100 e-rickshaws, and said the e-rickshaws would not only provide livelihood to the poor but also save the environment.  The Prime Minister even rode in an e-rickshaw. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, UP Governor Ram naik, and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma also rode with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's chai pe charcha moment helped him understand directly the problems faced by rickshaw drivers. An Ola app was also launched for e-rickshaws.  Carpenter Imran who earned just Rs 10,000 to support his family of six and Khushnuma and her son got e-rickshaws at the function. They hope their lives will change for the better. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a Skills Development Centre, and paid tributes to Babu Jagjivan Ram. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Stand up India puts special focus on enabling SC-ST and women entrepreneurs. Government believes that true empowerment is when a job seeker is empowered to become a job provider.  To achieve this, government first set up the jan dhan yojana for financial inclusion, then Start-up India and Mudra yojana to help create entrepreneurs. The Stand Up India scheme is another link in this collective objective and will particularly benefit vulnerable sections of society.