Women's empowerment in Uttarakhand: Policies, progress, and future goals

DEHRADUN: Women have been central to the success of Uttarakhand since its formation, with many playing a crucial role in the state's development. In several hill districts, women outnumber men due to migration, making them the backbone of local life. Over the past 24 years, women in Uttarakhand have increasingly risen to prominent positions in various sectors, a trend that reflects their growing leadership in the state.

Following the formation of Uttarakhand, the state government has taken significant steps to empower women, yielding positive results. A landmark reform was the introduction of reservation for women in urban local bodies and the three-tier Panchayat system, which has paved the way for the emergence of women leaders at various levels. In a further push for gender equality, the current government under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has decided to implement 33% reservation for women in cooperative societies. Additionally, the government has reinstated 30% horizontal reservation for women in government jobs. Notably, the state’s chief secretary is a woman, and women are now holding key positions, such as District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police, in several districts.

The government is also focusing on education and financial support for women, with a special emphasis on girls' education. To incentivize female education, the state has launched several schemes under the Nanda Gaurav Yojana, which provides Rs 12,000 at the birth of a girl and Rs 51,000 after she completes Class 12. Additionally, the chief minister’s Mahalakshmi Kit is provided to every family at the time of a girl’s birth, helping support the early years of a girl child.

To honor the contributions of women, the Uttarakhand government presents the State Stree Shakti Tilu Rauteli Award every year on the birth anniversary of the legendary warrior Tilu Rauteli. The award, which includes Rs51,000 in cash, a memento, and a certificate, recognizes women who have excelled in various fields. In another move to support working women, the government has started establishing working women’s hostels in districts such as Dehradun and Haridwar, offering affordable and secure housing for women living away from home.

The state government is taking concrete steps to economically empower women. In an effort to encourage property ownership among women, it is offering exemptions on stamp duty for properties purchased in women’s names. Additionally, the government’s Lakhpati Didis scheme, launched in 2022, has already seen over 100,000 women becoming lakhpatis. The scheme aims to boost the annual income of women in self-help groups to over Rs1 lakh, providing them with opportunities in agriculture, dairy, tailoring, catering, and more.

The government is also offering interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh to self-help groups to help women start their own businesses. Furthermore, the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana aims to increase the income of women’s groups across the state.

CM Dhami emphasized the government's commitment to empowering women, stating, "The state government is dedicated to maternal power. Our government's effort is to strengthen the economic position of women. To achieve this, we are running several schemes through women’s groups. Additionally, women are being provided loans for self-employment. This is why we have implemented reservation for women in government jobs."

He further added that the upcoming Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will play a significant role in further empowering women economically and socially, making them more secure in both their personal and professional lives.

The Uttarakhand government’s continued focus on women’s empowerment is evident through these initiatives, which aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society for women in the state.