Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, received a delegation from the BJP Mahila Morcha, Uttarakhand at his official residence, where members congratulated him on completing five years as 'chief servant' (mukhya sevak) of the state. The CM used the occasion to reaffirm his government's commitment to women's empowerment across safety, health, education and economic participation.

Context

In a post on X, CM Dhami stated that under the 'visionary leadership' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 'double-engine government' continues to accord the highest priority to the 'honour, security, health, education and economic empowerment of women.' The BJP Mahila Morcha delegation's visit to the Chief Minister's official residence in Dehradun marked a symbolic milestone in his tenure, which began in July 2021.

The CM underscored that the state has provided 30 percent horizontal reservation for women across categories in government jobs, a key plank of what he described as the resolve to achieve 'development led by women's leadership' (mahila netritva mein vikas ka sankalp).

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand's 30 percent horizontal reservation for women in state government employment cuts across existing vertical categories — general, OBC, SC and ST — ensuring women within each category receive a defined share of posts. This is distinct from vertical reservation and is designed to increase the absolute number of women entering the public sector workforce.

The initiative sits within the broader national framework of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which reserved one-third of seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, signalling a legislative push for female representation at multiple levels of governance. The Uttarakhand government's job reservation policy predates that amendment and reflects state-level action on the same theme.

The CM also highlighted efforts to strengthen Self-Help Groups (SHGs), promote women entrepreneurship, boost local and traditional products, and create new leadership opportunities — all framed under the BJP's wider 'Nari Shakti' programme that links central financial-inclusion schemes with state-specific delivery mechanisms.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of these policies are women job aspirants in Uttarakhand competing for state government positions, members of Self-Help Groups engaged in micro-enterprise and local-product marketing, and women entrepreneurs seeking institutional support and market access. The BJP Mahila Morcha, as the party's women's wing, plays an organising and advocacy role in amplifying these programmes at the grassroots level.

CM Dhami expressed 'complete confidence' that matrishakti — the power of women — will play the 'most important role' in building a 'developed Uttarakhand' (viksit Uttarakhand), aligning state messaging with the Centre's 'Viksit Bharat' vision for 2047. The government pledged to continue working with 'full commitment' for the holistic empowerment and self-reliance (atmanirbharta) of women.

What's Next

The practical test of these commitments lies in implementation data — specifically, how many government posts have been filled under the 30 percent horizontal quota and the scale at which SHGs and women-led enterprises have been supported. These figures are expected to feature in the next Uttarakhand budget session and legislative reviews. Observers will watch whether the state translates the anniversary messaging into measurable, publicly reported targets for female workforce participation in the months ahead.