CM Dhami Champions Single Women's Self-Employment Scheme

Key Takeaways

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami publicly endorsed the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana on July 28, 2026 .

The scheme is designed to promote self-employment among single women in Uttarakhand, including widows and divorced women.

Dhami described it as a 'strong foundation of self-respect, self-reliance, and economic empowerment.' Uttarakhand has maintained targeted women's welfare schemes since its formation as a state in 2000 .

Exact beneficiary numbers, funding details, and launch date remain unverified; disclosures are expected in upcoming assembly sessions.

A scheme built on dignity — Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, spotlighted the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana as a cornerstone of economic independence for the state's single women, declaring it a 'strong foundation of self-respect, self-reliance, and economic empowerment of women power.'

In his post, CM Dhami wrote: 'Matrashakti ke aatmsamman, aatmnirbharta aur arthik sashaktikaran ki mazboot aadharshila ban rahi hai Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana.' — 'The Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana is becoming a strong cornerstone of the self-respect, self-reliance, and economic empowerment of women power.'

What the Scheme Targets — and Who It Reaches

The Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana is a Uttarakhand government initiative designed specifically to promote self-employment among single women — a category that includes widows, divorced women, and those abandoned by their families. The scheme sits within a broader state-level architecture of welfare programmes aimed at economically vulnerable groups, a policy tradition Uttarakhand has maintained since its formation as a state in 2000. Single women in hill states like Uttarakhand face compounded disadvantages: geographic isolation, limited formal employment, and social stigma. A dedicated self-employment scheme addresses all three by channelling state support toward income-generating activity that women can anchor within their own communities.

Dhami's Welfare Push Under BJP Governance

Since taking charge as Chief Minister in 2021, Pushkar Singh Dhami has positioned targeted welfare for women as a signature of his administration. The BJP government in Uttarakhand has periodically introduced schemes focused on economic self-reliance, and the Ekal Mahila Yojana fits squarely within that pattern — extending the party's 'empowerment over entitlement' framing to one of the state's most overlooked demographics. What the government has not yet placed in the public domain are granular beneficiary numbers, exact disbursement figures, or a verified launch date for this iteration of the scheme. Those details — expected to surface in upcoming assembly sessions through budget disclosures — will be the real test of the programme's reach. The headline is clear: Uttarakhand is betting that putting tools for self-employment in the hands of single women is how it closes one of its most stubborn welfare gaps. The numbers will tell whether the bet is paying off.

Point of View

Single women — rather than broad-based transfers. For Dhami, amplifying the scheme publicly ahead of potential budget disclosures serves a dual purpose: it reinforces his government's 'empowerment' brand and pre-empts opposition criticism on women's welfare. The real political test, however, will come when beneficiary data enters the public record — strong numbers would validate the approach, while thin outreach could expose the gap between rhetoric and delivery. Uttarakhand's hill geography makes last-mile implementation of self-employment schemes genuinely difficult, making execution the decisive variable here.

NationPress

28 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana?

The Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana is an Uttarakhand government scheme that promotes self-employment among single women — including widows, divorced women, and abandoned women — to support their economic independence.

Who is eligible for the Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana in Uttarakhand?

The scheme targets single women in Uttarakhand who lack a primary male earner in the household, such as widows, separated, or divorced women seeking self-employment opportunities.

What did CM Pushkar Singh Dhami say about the scheme?

CM Dhami called the scheme a 'strong cornerstone of self-respect, self-reliance, and economic empowerment of women power' in a post on July 28, 2026.

How does Uttarakhand support women entrepreneurs?

Uttarakhand runs targeted welfare and self-employment schemes for women, including the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarojgar Yojana, as part of a broader state policy tradition dating back to the state's formation in 2000.

When will beneficiary data for the Ekal Mahila Yojana be available?

Detailed beneficiary numbers and funding disclosures are expected to be released during upcoming Uttarakhand assembly budget sessions; exact figures have not been officially published yet.