Women’s Economic Participation Key to Building a Strong Maharashtra: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, March 2026 :Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that empowering women economically through education and employment is essential for accelerating the nation’s economic growth. He emphasized that a strong and prosperous Maharashtra can only be built when women actively participate in the economy.

Fadnavis made these remarks at the “Saksham Mahila–Sashakt Maharashtra” program organized by the Women and Child Development Department Maharashtra on the occasion of International Women’s Day at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan. The event honoured women who overcame challenging circumstances and achieved success in their respective fields.

Congratulating the award-winning women, the Chief Minister said their achievements would inspire many others across the state. He described the event not merely as an award ceremony but as a celebration of the courage and determination shown by these women in overcoming adversity.

The program was attended by Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, along with senior officials.

Several women who achieved success despite difficult circumstances were honoured during the event. These included Vaishali Hivarale from Jalgaon, Sejal Jadeja from Nashik, Sarita Naik from Mumbai, Surekha Pawar from Parbhani, Bageshwari Reddy from Pune, Jyoti Mirgane from Beed, Suvarna Agrawal from Pune, Marjena Dilawar Maner, Mansi Patekar, and Kiran Pandey.

Fadnavis said the state government is working through various schemes to provide women with education, employment opportunities, and financial independence. By empowering women economically and encouraging entrepreneurship, their participation in the state and national economy will increase, which in turn will accelerate overall economic growth.

Referring to the vision of Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said achieving the goal of Developed India 2047 requires greater participation of women in economic activities. The central government has already launched several initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Lakhpati Didi to expand opportunities for women across sectors.

He noted that over the past two years, nearly 3.7 million women in the state have become Lakhpati Didis, earning more than ₹1 lakh annually. The government aims to increase this number to one crore women by 2026–27, which he said will significantly strengthen the economic cycle.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said the government is committed to the overall empowerment of women, stressing that respecting women means valuing their aspirations, emotions, and dreams. She expressed pride in the achievements of women from Maharashtra in fields ranging from agriculture to science.

Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare added that Maharashtra has become the first state to introduce a dedicated policy for single women. She said several schemes are being implemented to support women, including programs that encourage them to start businesses and become financially independent.

Tatkare also announced plans to expand initiatives such as Manodhairya Yojana, One Stop Centres, Sakhi Centres, and Shakti Sadan to strengthen support systems for women and ensure their comprehensive development.