Should Male Family Members of Women in Local Bodies Refrain from Interfering?

Gwalior, Sep 13 (NationPress) Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized on Saturday that women serving in local urban and Panchayat bodies must be allowed full autonomy in their roles. Scindia highlighted the competence of women to manage their responsibilities without interference from men, particularly their husbands.

He remarked that if women can successfully manage their families, they are more than capable of fulfilling their official duties.

This assertion came during the inauguration of a post office/passport service in Morena district on Saturday.

Speaking to a large audience, Scindia urged men whose spouses are elected officials in local urban and Panchayat bodies to refrain from interfering in their official responsibilities.

"The women elected to Gram Panchayats, Zila Panchayat, or Zila Parishads across the entire Gwalior-Chambal region should have the freedom to make decisions pertinent to their roles. All men present, let us pledge today not to intrude," Scindia appealed.

Additionally, he encouraged MLAs and other public representatives in attendance to support the women in their respective constituencies.

Scindia called on male representatives to ensure the required deposit for each bank account opened under the Sukanya Yojana is funded by them.

"I have made a commitment to cover the necessary deposit for opening bank accounts under the Sukanya Yojana. I also urge all male representatives to do the same," stated Scindia, a Lok Sabha MP from Guna. He also underscored India's remarkable progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the country has ascended to the fourth largest economy over the past 11 years.

"The day is approaching when India will rank as the world’s third-largest economy, but this is contingent on providing equal opportunities for both men and women. Our Prime Minister has envisioned women's empowerment, and it’s our collective responsibility to realize this vision," he added.

During his address, the Minister also highlighted various women-centric flagship initiatives introduced by the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, particularly the 'Ladli Laxmi Yojana' and 'Ladli Behna Yojana'—both initiated by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his speech, Scindia commended Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for his unwavering commitment to transforming Madhya Pradesh into a developed state. He mentioned that the state has experienced significant growth under the BJP's governance in recent years. "Madhya Pradesh is the pioneering state where schemes like Ladli Laxmi and Ladli Behna Yojana were launched during the Bharatiya Janata Party's administration," Scindia remarked, without naming Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the former Chief Minister responsible for these initiatives.