Dehradun, April 28
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the special session of the Assembly – “Nari Samman: Rights in Democracy” – convened to discuss the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The Chief Minister proposed a unanimous resolution in support of the Central Government’s efforts to implement at the earliest the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, which seeks to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
Dhami began his address by paying tribute to the women who symbolize the strength of Uttarakhand, including state movement activists and icons such as Gaura Devi, Tinchari Mai, Bishni Devi Shah, Jashuli Shaukyaan, Kunti Verma, Bhagirathi Devi, Mangla Devi, Hansa Dhanai, Sarla Behn, Belmati Chauhan, Sushila Behn, and Kamla Pant. He appealed to the House that measures for the empowerment of women should rise above politics.
The Chief Minister emphasized that in Sanatan culture, women are revered as goddesses. In the forms of Maa Durga, Maa Lakshmi, and Maa Saraswati, we worship courage, prosperity, and knowledge. He recalled inspiring examples of women’s strength in Indian history, from Rani Lakshmibai and Savitribai Phule to astronaut Kalpana Chawla. He underlined that women today are not confined to “participation” but are taking on “leadership” roles.
Whether it is the historic success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, winning the Cricket World Cup, graduating from the National Defence Academy, or serving on the frontlines in the Army and Air Force – these are all living examples of Nari Shakti. Similarly, Uttarakhand too has its own icons of indomitable courage: Teelu Rauteli, known as the Lakshmibai of Uttarakhand; Rani Jiya Rani; and Gaura Devi, the pioneer of the Chipko Movement.
