Noida: To boost entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women by facilitating loans in the range of Rs.10 lakh to Rs.1 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the Stand Up India initiative and said it will transform the lives of Dalits and Adivasis.
Modi said people from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes can perform as well as others if given the opportunity.
“Our tribal brethren and those belonging to Scheduled Castes will perform equally well as us if they are provided with the opportunities. How long will they wait for jobs and to which extent the government can give them jobs? God has given equal power and strength to Dalits as to us,” Modi said.
He said the scheme will convert “job-seekers into job-creators” and will also change their lives.
“We got the opportunity but they were denied it. If we can perform on getting an opportunity, they can also perform,” Modi said, advocating equal opportunities for people belonging to the Scheduled Castes.
Referring to Dalits, he said “they should not depend on someone’s mercy”. (IANS)