A New Identity of Self-Respect: A Golden Era of Women Empowerment in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, April 2026 : Celebrating the year 2026 as “Mahtari Gaurav Year,” Chhattisgarh is witnessing a renewed focus on women’s dignity, self-respect, and economic empowerment. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the state government’s schemes are now delivering tangible results at the grassroots level, clearly reflected in the data.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that “Mahtari Gaurav Year” is a comprehensive campaign aimed at making women self-reliant and empowered. He highlighted that the state government has given top priority to women and children’s nutrition and health in the budget. An allocation of ₹800 crore has been made for Anganwadi operations, ₹650 crore for supplementary nutrition, and ₹235 crore for malnutrition eradication and nutrition campaigns. These investments are expected to play a crucial role in building a healthier and stronger future generation.

Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade said that the Mahtari Vandan Yojana has emerged as a milestone in strengthening women’s economic independence. Launched on March 10, 2024, the scheme provides monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to nearly 7 million women. So far, over ₹16,881 crore has been directly transferred into beneficiaries’ accounts through 26 installments. A budget provision of ₹8,200 crore further reflects the government’s strong commitment to the scheme.

To secure the future of young girls, the proposed Rani Durgavati Scheme will provide financial assistance of ₹1.5 lakh upon attaining the age of 18, with a budget allocation of ₹15 crore.

Infrastructure development for women is also progressing rapidly in the state. A provision of ₹75 crore has been made for the construction of Mahtari Sadan buildings, of which 368 have been approved and 137 completed so far. Additionally, ₹42 crore has been allocated for the construction of 500 new Anganwadi centers, enhancing service delivery in both rural and urban areas.

In the area of maternal welfare, over 3.73 lakh registrations have been recorded under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, with payments exceeding ₹235 crore. The number of registrations has steadily increased, from over 1.75 lakh in 2023–24 to more than 2.19 lakh in 2024–25. By February 2025–26, over 2.04 lakh registrations had already been recorded, achieving more than 93 percent of the target.

The state has also made notable progress under the Poshan Abhiyan. During Poshan Maah 2024, Chhattisgarh secured first place in per-center performance and third place overall. Innovative initiatives such as Nyota Bhoj have led to the organization of over 9,700 events, benefiting more than 1.83 lakh children.

Minister Rajwade added that women are being encouraged towards self-reliance through self-help groups, which are being linked to activities like ready-to-eat food production. Schemes such as Lakhpati Didi are creating entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, around 3.8 million women have benefited from access to clean cooking fuel.

Additionally, the number of Sakhi One Stop Centers has been increased from 27 to 34, where over 14,300 cases have been registered and more than 8,900 resolved.

It is evident that “Mahtari Gaurav Year” is not merely symbolic but a results-driven initiative. Under the leadership of Vishnu Deo Sai and Lakshmi Rajwade, women in Chhattisgarh are emerging as key drivers of development, shaping a progressive future for the state.