Lucknow, October 2026 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said women in the state were emerging not merely as beneficiaries of development schemes but as architects of the rural economy and shapers of a new India.
On the fourth day of Sharadiya Navratri, the Chief Minister offered his prayers to Maa Kushmanda, describing the goddess as an eternal symbol of creation, energy and prosperity. He also conveyed a message of devotion and highlighted the importance of empowering women through greater opportunities and economic independence.
Yogi said that wherever women receive strength and opportunities, deprivation gives way to hard work, hard work leads to self-reliance, and self-reliance ultimately brings prosperity.
Women Had Few Opportunities Before 2017
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said that before 2017, women in Uttar Pradesh lacked opportunities and resources, while the government lacked the necessary policy direction and commitment to their empowerment.
He said the situation had changed, with women increasingly playing an active role in economic development, particularly in rural areas.
Double-Engine Government Promoting Self-Reliance
The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh was connecting rural women with new avenues of self-reliance and economic empowerment.
He highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening women's participation in the rural economy.
Banking Correspondent Sakhis (BC Sakhis) are strengthening access to banking services in villages, helping residents access essential financial facilities closer to their homes.
Lakhpati Didis are emerging as symbols of financial independence, with initiatives aimed at enabling women to increase their incomes and improve their economic standing.
Drone Didis, meanwhile, are taking the lead in introducing modern technology into agriculture, demonstrating how rural women can contribute to the modernisation of farming practices.
Yogi also highlighted the role of self-help groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in expanding livelihood opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship and creating agriculture-based employment for rural women.
Women Leading Uttar Pradesh's Development Journey
The Chief Minister said women were no longer confined to supporting their families' prosperity but were increasingly managing rural economic activities and leading Uttar Pradesh's development journey.
He emphasised that empowering women economically would strengthen villages and contribute to the state's overall growth.
“When women in villages prosper, Uttar Pradesh will truly become prosperous and empowered,” was the central message of his statement.
Yogi said the growing participation of women in banking, agriculture, entrepreneurship and community-based economic activities reflected their expanding role in building a self-reliant rural economy and a stronger Uttar Pradesh.
