- Smriti Irani supports the Indian Army and paramilitary forces by contributing her entire pension to the National Defence Fund
- Calls on the public to help, stressing the value of public involvement in bolstering national defense
Former Union Minister Smriti Irani said she has given her whole pension to the National Defence Fund, which supports the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, in an appeal for support. "I chose to lead by example before asking citizens for contributions," she said, urging others to do the same.
Speaking to traders and female entrepreneurs at a CAIT Nagpur event hosted at the Vidarbha Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Smriti, who is currently the Strategic Advisor to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), made the announcement. She also disclosed that the organization has committed ₹1 crore to the fund under the direction of CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia.
She emphasized how important women are to India's economic development, pointing out that women-run small businesses and self-help organizations make an astounding $37 billion (roughly ₹3 lakh crore) a year. "The Central Government has approved ₹8 lakh crore in funding for such ventures, which has greatly bolstered both rural and urban economies," she said.
Smriti emphasized the need for inclusive development by stating, "We should not be content with being the fourth-largest economy in the world—we must strive to be number one, with women leading the way." She highlighted the role that women-led businesses play in fostering economic strength at the local level and commended their tenacity.
These views were echoed by CAIT President Bhartia, who urged customers, especially women, to choose domestic producers over those in other countries. He also praised government programs that empower women in the social, educational, and economic spheres.
Raju Jain, Deepa Pachauri, Roop Nandi, Dhananjay Bhide, Kishore Dharashivkar, Gopal Aggarwal, Bhagyashree Bakne, Kishore Chhabra, Asha Pandey, Premlata Tiwari, Mahesh Kukdareja, Madhusudan Trivedi, Jyoti Awasthi, and Hemlata Dhuria were among the dignitaries who attended the event.
