Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday, June 12, 2026, marked the occasion of #12YearsOfNariShakti by crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for transforming India's approach to women's development — from passive welfare delivery to active, women-led economic participation.

Context

In his post, Sonowal stated that India has 'shifted from passive welfare to true women-led development' under PM Modi's leadership. He cited flagship programmes — Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the Swachh Bharat Mission — as instruments that first secured dignity for women, before livelihood initiatives created 'millions of Lakhpati Didis.' The hashtag #12YearsOfNariShakti marks twelve years since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance came to power at the Centre in May 2014.

The phrase 'Nari Shakti' (women's power) has become a recurring frame in the government's communication around women-centric policy. Sonowal's post reflects a broader effort by senior BJP leaders to consolidate the party's record on women's welfare ahead of ongoing political cycles.

Policy Backdrop

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched in May 2016, was designed to provide LPG connections to women in below-poverty-line households, addressing indoor air pollution and reducing the burden of firewood collection disproportionately borne by women. The Swachh Bharat Mission, initiated on 2 October 2014, prioritised toilet construction as a safety and dignity measure, particularly for women and girls in rural areas.

The Lakhpati Didi initiative operates under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), targeting women in self-help groups (SHGs) to achieve annual household incomes of at least Rs 1 lakh. Targets under this component were expanded from 2021 onward, positioning SHG networks as engines of grassroots economic growth rather than mere social safety nets.

Since 2014, central government policy has consistently framed women's welfare programmes as foundational to broader economic growth indicators — a deliberate shift from a beneficiary model to one of active participation and income generation.

Stakeholders and Impact

Rural women and members of self-help groups across India are the primary beneficiaries of the policy architecture Sonowal referenced. The convergence of sanitation, clean energy, and livelihood programmes has been presented by the government as addressing multiple barriers — health, safety, and income — simultaneously.

Women's SHG networks, which now number in the tens of millions across states, have become significant political and economic constituencies. Their mobilisation is frequently cited by the government as evidence of the shift from welfare dependency to entrepreneurial self-sufficiency that the #12YearsOfNariShakti narrative seeks to highlight.

What's Next

Parliamentary and ministry-level updates on verified beneficiary counts under the Lakhpati Didi programme, as well as any revised targets in the upcoming Union Budget, will be closely watched as benchmarks for the government's claims. The anniversary framing also signals that women-centric governance will remain a central plank in the ruling party's political messaging through the current term.