Dharamshala, April 17
BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal on Thursday attended the “Nari Shakti Vandan” programme held in Dharamshala and said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a historic step towards strengthening Indian democracy. MLAs Sudhir Sharma (Dharamshala), Pawan Kajal (Kangra), Vipin Singh Parmar (Sulah), BJP District Kangra President Sachin Sharma, along with several senior leaders, were present on the occasion. The programme witnessed the dignified presence of Dr. (Col.) Rita Dadhwal, Dr. Vasu Singh, Jyoti Chandel, Seema Chandel, Anjala Kumari, Shubhra Gupta, Shakun, Sheela Saluja, and Ranju Rastogi, along with a large number of women participants.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Bindal said, “The approach towards women’s empowerment in India has undergone a fundamental shift—it is no longer limited to welfare, but is now focused on empowering society and the nation through women.” He stated that the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will significantly enhance women’s participation in Parliament and State Assemblies, bringing balance, sensitivity, and inclusiveness to policymaking.
Highlighting the achievements of the Central Government, Dr. Bindal said that a comprehensive life-cycle approach has been adopted to empower women at every stage of life. He noted that over 4.27 crore women have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, with ₹20,101 crore directly transferred to beneficiaries. Under POSHAN 2.0, around 14 lakh Anganwadi centres are serving nearly 9 crore beneficiaries daily, while the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has led to a significant improvement in the sex ratio at birth.
Dr. Bindal further said that 926 One Stop Centres under Mission Shakti are providing integrated legal, medical, and psychological support to women, while the 181 Women Helpline has assisted nearly 99 lakh women across the country. On economic empowerment, Dr. Bindal highlighted that women have received nearly 68% of loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, with over ₹14.72 lakh crore disbursed to support women entrepreneurs. He added that 10 crore women have been connected through Self-Help Groups, and over 3 crore women have become “Lakhpati Didis,” setting new benchmarks in self-reliance.
Referring to improvements in the health sector, Dr. Bindal said that the maternal mortality ratio has declined from 130 in 2014 to 88 in 2023, while child mortality has also reduced significantly under Mission Indradhanush. He further stated that schemes like Ujjwala Yojana (10.5 crore LPG connections), Swachh Bharat Mission (over 12 crore toilets), and Jal Jeevan Mission (tap water to 15.8 crore households) have ensured dignity, safety, and improved quality of life for women. Highlighting progress in education, he said that girls’ enrolment at the secondary level has increased significantly, and women’s participation in higher education and research is rising rapidly.
