Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that women-led development approach is the most effective way of women's empowerment. Addressing the inaugural session of the G20 Ministerial meeting of Women's Empowerment in Gandhinagar, he called for removing barriers that restrict growth of women. Mr Modi stressed the need for a level playing field for women in all sectors.
 
The Prime Minister recalled the role contribution of women in the cooperative sector, especially in dairying. He called mobilisation of women through Self Help Groups as a powerful force of change. Reaffirming the government's commitment towards women-led development, Mr Modi said more than 70 percent of loans under Mudra scheme have been sanctioned to women. He also talked about increasing participation of women in the labour force right from governance, business, space and technology, and in armed forces.
 
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, in her adress, lauded the role played by India's Presidency of G20 for several dynamic outcomes, including the tech equity platform. She expressed the hope that women-led development will be central in all action-oriented commitments of the ministerial meeting.
 
More than 150 delegates led by their respective Heads of Delegations from G20 members, invitee countries and International Organisations are taking part in the meeting. On the sidelines of the conference, Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel inaugurated an exhibition on the theme ‘India @ 75: Contribution of Women’, with a focus on Women in Crafts, Nutrition, Food, Health, Education Skilling, Trade and Economy.