 | Better days ahead for textile industry: Union Minister Smriti IraniUnion Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles Smriti Irani said India can make world-class products at a competitive price. Deep engagement with officials at the state and district levels has yielded positive results, she said in a conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express and author and senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai on TNIE’s Expressions, a series of live webcasts with people who matter. Women across classes have shouldered a lot of the burden during the pandemic. Can you take us through some of the initiatives you have taken in the past two months, especially for domestic violence — one of the biggest issues women faced? We were working to ensure that the one-stop crisis centres across the country were functional and never shut their doors, irrespective of the country being in lockdown. We reached out to every one-stop centre. Similarly, we engaged with all child care centres and women’s homes across the country to ensure that the people living in those homes are safe and have access to essential commodities. We also ensured that the anganwadis, which are at the frontline, continued to function. Even if anganwadis were shut, the take-home rations were delivered at the doorstep. In the lockdown, we had 9 crore female beneficiaries who received the rations at the doorstep. How do you take the incident of anganwadi workers being beaten away? The PM has been very vocal not only in terms of his words but also his action that the breakdown of law and order will not be accepted by the Centre. We have taken a Cabinet decision to protect frontline workers as well. There was also a public outrage over it. During the COVID-19 crisis, we saw a cohesiveness in the PM’s approach and the people’s response. |
 | Express Expressions l Smriti Irani on the post-Corona worldUnion Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles Smriti Irani said India can make world-class products at a competitive price. Deep engagement with officials at the state and district levels has yielded positive results, she said in a conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express and author and senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai on TNIE’s Expressions, a series of live webcasts with people who matter. Women across classes have shouldered a lot of the burden during the pandemic. Can you take us through some of the initiatives you have taken in the past two months, especially for domestic violence — one of the biggest issues women faced? We were working to ensure that the one-stop crisis centres across the country were functional and never shut their doors, irrespective of the country being in lockdown. We reached out to every one-stop centre. Similarly, we engaged with all child care centres and women’s homes across the country to ensure that the people living in those homes are safe and have access to essential commodities. We also ensured that the anganwadis, which are at the frontline, continued to function. Even if anganwadis were shut, the take-home rations were delivered at the doorstep. In the lockdown, we had 9 crore female beneficiaries who received the rations at the doorstep. How do you take the incident of anganwadi workers being beaten away? The PM has been very vocal not only in terms of his words but also his action that the breakdown of law and order will not be accepted by the Centre. We have taken a Cabinet decision to protect frontline workers as well. There was also a public outrage over it. During the COVID-19 crisis, we saw a cohesiveness in the PM’s approach and the people’s response. Have cases of child abuse and violence against women gone up? When COVID-19 hit India, there was a lot of talks — and it came from international agencies — that across the world 80 per cent women are getting beaten at home. When we asked for validated figures, they said this is just a supposition. When we tracked the numbers, we found that they have gone down. But because it is an evolving situation, it would be premature for me to make a generic statement. What have we achieved in the journey from Make in India to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’? We studied 580 export-import lines and we alerted the revenue department on increasing the import duties. In light of Covid-19, we tried to figure out how we can enhance the opportunities for local artisans. We coordinated with self-help groups for making face covers which are being locally consumed. I am engaged in further discussions on the textile ministry with the ministries of finance and commerce which I cannot mention right now. Will the existing textile units have to reinvented for new kinds of products? They have themselves adapted to new market needs. |
 | JNU Violence: Delhi Police name seven students as suspects after Smriti's statements on DeepikaThe Delhi Police released images of the suspects, caught on a CCTV camera during the attack at a Sabarmati hostel on January 5. |
 | Informed people are standing with terrorist supporters: Smriti IraniSmriti Irani spoke at the Think Edu 2020 Conclave on the Citizenship Amendment Act and the protests that have erupted in response to it. |
| Deepika Padukone sided with those who hit girls on private parts with lathis: Smriti IraniSmriti Irani spoke at the ThinkEdu 2020 Conclave on Deepika Padukone and her visit to JNU. |
 | Smriti Irani lends shoulder to carry corpse of slain BJP worker who was killedThe post-mortem of the deceased. Surendra Singh was carried out in Lucknow after which the body was brought to Amethi. |
 | Smriti Irani promises death penalty for Surendra Singh's murderersThe BJP leader said that she would go to the Supreme Court if that is what it takes to punish the miscreants who killed Surendra Singh. |
 | 'Take care of Amethi with love' says Rahul Gandhi to Smriti IraniAfter Narendra Modi's historic win the the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference wherein he congratulated Modi on his victory. |
 | Phase 5: BJP's Amethi candidate and Union Minister Smriti Irani attacks Rahul GandhiAs Amethi goes for polls today, BJP candidate for Amethi, Smriti Irani told reporters that Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi and its people long ago. |
 | Lok Sabha elections 2019: Rahul Gandhi files nomination after grand roadshow in AmethiThe three-term MP will take on Union minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani in what is seen as a direct contest. |
 | Is India's education system divisive? - Smriti Irani & Farooq AbdullahThinkEDU 2019 - The big session. Is India's education system divisive? Smriti Irani & Farooq Abdullah |
 | Rahul Gandhi takes tuition to dream, what to speak: Smriti IraniUnion Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi takes tuitions to dream and learn what to speak and what not. |
 | Condom ads continue to spark controversyThe government on Monday strictly asked TV channels not to air advertisements selling and promoting condoms because these are 'indecent especially for children' and can create 'unhealthy practices'. |
 | BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi on dynasty politicsHitting back at Rahul Gandhi for defending dynastic politics, the BJP on Tuesday reminded the Congress Vice President that the top three constitutional posts in the country are held by common people. |
 | Amit Shah, Smriti Irani file nomination for Rajya Sabha pollBJP president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and leader Balwantsinh Rajput file their nomination for the RS elections on Friday in Gujarat. |
