PM Modi’s Birthday Return Gift: Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar

On his 75th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to celebrate with pomp, but with purpose. Standing before thousands of women in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, he unveiled a nationwide drive aimed at what he called the foundation of a strong nation—healthy and empowered women. The launch of the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar” campaign, coupled with Rashtriya Poshan Maah, signalled a sweeping push that connects women’s health, family wellbeing, and national progress.

“When a mother is healthy, the household thrives; when women prosper, the nation prospers,” Modi declared, setting the tone for what was as much a personal message as it was a policy vision.

Women’s Health as a National Priority

The Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar campaign, which will run from September 17 to October 2, is being hailed as India’s largest-ever women-centric health initiative. Held at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, community health centres, and government hospitals across the country, the campaign is designed to ensure no woman is left behind—whether in a bustling metro or a remote tribal village.

What it offers:

• Screening for lifestyle and chronic illnesses like diabetes, anaemia, blood pressure, tuberculosis, and cancer.

• Maternal and child health services including antenatal check-ups and immunisations.

• Mental health counselling and awareness sessions.

• Specialist consultations in gynaecology, dermatology, psychiatry, and paediatrics.

• Yoga, Ayush therapies, and lifestyle guidance.

• Blood donation drives connected to the national e-Raktkosh portal.

Importantly, the health camps also serve as single-window centres, offering Ayushman Card registration, grievance redressal, and enrolment in key welfare schemes. The government’s goal: to move beyond short-term relief and build lasting systems of care.

“No mother should be left behind, no daughter should fall behind. Lack of awareness or resources should never take away a woman’s health or dignity,” Modi told the crowd at Dhar Bhojshala.

Reducing Maternal Mortality

India has long grappled with high maternal and infant mortality rates. Modi used the occasion to underline his government’s track record in tackling the challenge. He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which since 2017 has transferred over ₹19,000 crore directly to 4.5 crore women.

On his birthday, Modi pressed a symbolic button that instantly released ₹450 crore into the accounts of 15 lakh women, a move he described as “the government’s guarantee of dignity to mothers and sisters.”

Technology also played a role, with the launch of the Suman Sakhi Chatbot, an AI-driven tool to provide maternal and child health information to women in rural and tribal belts.

Tribal Health and the Fight Against Sickle Cell Anaemia

For India’s tribal communities, sickle cell anaemia has been a quiet but devastating health burden. Modi personally handed out the one-croreth Sickle Cell Screening Card, marking a milestone in a mission launched just last year in Shahdol. So far, over 5 crore individuals have been screened.

“Sickle cell anaemia is a silent destroyer. With widespread screening and awareness, we are safeguarding future generations of our tribal mothers and sisters,” Modi said, urging every tribal woman to get tested.

Economic Empowerment: From Mudra to Lakhpati Didis

Health, Modi reminded the crowd, cannot be separated from economic independence. He revisited flagship programmes that have directly transformed women’s daily lives:

• Ujjwala Yojana – LPG connections for smoke-free kitchens.

• Jal Jeevan Mission – Tap water supply to reduce women’s drudgery.

• PM Awas Yojana – Most homes registered in women’s names, strengthening financial security.

• Mudra Yojana – Loans enabling crores of women to run small businesses.

• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) – Turning women into rural entrepreneurs.

The Prime Minister announced that nearly 2 crore women have already become “Lakhpati Didis”—women earning over ₹1 lakh annually—against a government target of 3 crore. Women are also being trained as Bank Sakhis and Drone Didis, embedding them into the financial and digital fabric of rural India.

“When women take charge of their households, they uplift entire villages. They are no longer just participants; they are leaders of India’s economic transformation,” he asserted.

A Mega Textile Park for Jobs and Industry

Marking Vishwakarma Jayanti, Modi also laid the foundation stone of India’s first PM MITRA Park in Dhar. Spread over 2,150 acres, it is expected to draw ₹23,140 crore in investments and create 3 lakh new jobs.

The park will integrate the entire textile value chain—farm to fibre, fibre to factory, factory to fashion, and fashion to foreign—realising Modi’s 5F vision. It will also carry a cultural imprint, with special emphasis on Maheshwari textiles, a craft historically championed by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.

“This park will not only give jobs but also strengthen the hands of our weavers, farmers, and women entrepreneurs,” Modi said.

Fighting Malnutrition: Poshan Maah

Running parallel to the health campaign is the 8th edition of Rashtriya Poshan Maah. The focus here is on nutrition awareness, adolescent girls’ anaemia, and school-level dietary education.

“Nutrition is not just about food; it is about dignity and a strong foundation for the future. A nourished daughter becomes an empowered mother, and an empowered mother creates a strong family,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

From Health to Nation-Building

Throughout his address, Modi tied women’s health and empowerment to bigger national themes—security, unity, and poverty reduction. He cited World Bank recognition of 25 crore Indians rising out of poverty and credited women-focused welfare schemes for much of that progress.

“These are not just schemes—they are guarantees. They are my devotion to bring smiles to poor mothers and sisters. A Swasth Nari means a Sashakt Parivar, and together they mean a Swasth, Sashakt Bharat,” he concluded to thunderous applause.

The impact was felt not just in Modi’s words but in the voices of the women present:

• Savita Bai, a pregnant woman from a tribal village: “For the first time, I received all pregnancy check-ups and guidance in one place. Now I know I will get support for my child’s birth.”

• Rekha Sharma, SHG member: “Through a Mudra loan, I started a small dairy business. Today, I am on my way to becoming a Lakhpati Didi.”

• Sunita Yadav, a textile worker: “The new MITRA Park will give us jobs closer to home. Women will no longer have to migrate far away for work.”

A Birthday Message Beyond Symbolism

For Modi, the birthday message was clear: women are not just beneficiaries of welfare—they are architects of India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. By bringing health, empowerment, industry, and culture together, the government’s newest campaigns position women as the backbone of India’s social and economic transformation.

“A mother’s smile is my greatest guarantee. When women prosper, India prospers. This is my life’s commitment,” Modi said, in what many saw as the defining line of the day.