India (Commonwealth Union)_ Smriti Irani, speaking at the India Global Forum event in London 2024, highlighted the significant progress made in women’s empowerment in India over the past decade. She expressed her vision for advancing women’s entrepreneurship in India by fostering the ownership of 100,000 businesses by women within the next five years. Reflecting on her political journey, Smriti Irani, the former Union Minister for Women and Child Development, shared that she became a Member of Parliament at the age of 38 after serving two terms in the upper house. She recounted her historic victory in 2019 over the sitting president of the Indian National Congress, a milestone unprecedented in Indian political history.
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Commenting on the challenges faced by women in politics, Irani remarked that women often navigate a delicate balance, needing to project a blend of femininity and assertiveness. She advised women globally to embrace assertiveness and flexibility in their pursuits for greater opportunities. She said, “If you are a woman, you need to look like a girl, behave like a lady, work like a horse, and think like a man”.
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At the outset of the IGF London 2024, Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman, set the stage by declaring India’s resurgence under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. He underscored the transformative potential of India’s Viksit Bharat Mission, envisioning India’s ascent to the ranks of the world’s most developed nations over the next 25 years. He stated, “India is back on the move. And Prime Minister Modi back in the driving seat. There is no bigger opportunity, no better opportunity than the opportunity to be part of the journey where the world’s largest democracy, the world’s most populous nation, transforms herself in the next two and a half decades to take her place amongst the most developed nations of the world. Yes, you have heard it before, and no doubt we will hear it many times again but the Viksit Bharat Mission is nothing short of the opportunity of this century.”
The sixth edition of the India Global Forum, themed ‘Pathways to a Limitless Future’, commenced at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London on June 24. The event assumes significance following India’s recent parliamentary elections and preceding the UK’s upcoming general elections on July 4. IGF London 2024 is backed by the UK Government and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, along with corporate sponsorship from Bloomberg, Bharat Forge, Hero Future Energies, BT Group, London Stock Exchange, Roland Berger, Tulah, and media partners ET NOW, Brut India, Dailyhunt, and Magster.
