‘Mahtari Vandan’ Symbol of Our Commitment to Women’s Empowerment: Deputy CM Vijay Sharma

Raipur, March 2026: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that the Mahtari Vandan Yojana is a strong symbol of the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. He was speaking at a district-level Mahtari Vandan programme held in Kawardha in Kabirdham district on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

During the event, Sharma honoured women who have made remarkable contributions in different fields by presenting them with certificates of appreciation and mementoes.

On the same occasion, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released the 25th installment of funds under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana from a programme organised in Bastar. In Kawardha, a Mahtari Vandan Conference was organised at Veer Savarkar Bhavan, where Deputy CM Vijay Sharma and Santosh Pandey, Member of Parliament from Rajnandgaon, participated.

Several public representatives and officials were present at the programme, including District Panchayat President Ishwari Sahu, Municipal Council President Chandra Prakash Chandravanshi, Vice President Kailash Chandravanshi, Janpad Panchayat President Sushma Baghel, District Panchayat members Ram Kumar Bhatt and Dr. Virendra Sahu, Chairperson Sushmita Patel, and other local leaders and officials. A large number of women also attended the conference.

Extending greetings on International Women’s Day, Deputy CM Sharma said that every day should be considered Women’s Day, as women play a central role in bringing positive change in society. He said that throughout history and in Indian tradition, mothers have always held the highest place in society and are revered as goddesses.

He also referred to an example from Indian philosophical history, noting that when Adi Shankaracharya debated with scholar Mandan Mishra, the judge of the debate was the learned woman Ubhaya Bharati, Mandan Mishra’s wife. This, he said, reflects the respected position of women in Indian tradition.

Sharma further stated that the government is working to strengthen women’s role in development through self-help groups, encouraging them to move towards self-employment, entrepreneurship, and cooperative initiatives. Many women are also being encouraged to become “Lakhpati Didis,” a term used for women who achieve an annual income of at least one lakh rupees through various livelihood initiatives.

He described Mahtari Vandan Yojana as one of the largest welfare schemes in the state, designed specifically to support women financially. Under the scheme, eligible women receive ₹1,000 every month, which helps strengthen their economic independence. The 25th installment of the scheme has now been released, he said.

According to Sharma, the financial support is helping women become economically stronger and encouraging them to adopt self-employment and entrepreneurial activities, enabling them to meet household and family expenses independently.

He added that the government is also working to ensure that women can easily access the funds credited to their accounts. For this purpose, Atal Digital Centres are being established in every village panchayat so that women can withdraw money directly from their bank accounts without having to travel to distant towns or banks.

The government is also constructing Mahtari Sadan buildings for women’s self-help groups. These facilities will be dedicated spaces for women’s activities and will be developed at the Cluster Level Federation (CLF) level to support group-based economic initiatives.

Sharma also highlighted the decision under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide 33 percent reservation for women in legislative bodies, which will strengthen women’s participation in policy-making and governance.

Speaking at the event, MP Santosh Pandey said that women are not only the foundation of families but also of society and the nation. As mothers, women play a crucial role in shaping the values and development of future generations.

District Panchayat President Ishwari Sahu said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, continuous efforts are being made to improve women’s economic and social status. He noted that the government had promised financial assistance under the Mahtari Vandan scheme and began implementing it soon after coming to power.

So far, more than 2.48 lakh women in Kabirdham district have benefited from the scheme, receiving ₹563.49 crore in 24 installments.

During the programme, several women and social organisations were honoured for their outstanding work. Among those recognised were Gangotri, Yashodhara Manikpuri, Preeti Singh Parihar, Shweta Sharma, Payal Srivastava, Saraswati Nishad, Chandra Kumari, Ranjana Bhatt, Sukoon Chandravanshi, Anita Pali, Khushboo, Anita Kesarwani, Reena Sharma, Ashwini Srivastava, Viveka Harris, Saroj Sharma, Nikita Dadsena, and Sangeeta Sahu.

In addition, the social organisation “Nai Soch Nai Rah Nari Shakti Team” was also honoured for its significant contribution to women’s empowerment and public service in society.