Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 11 October declared that no force can impede the establishment of 'Ram Rajya' if women are accorded respect, security, and self-reliance. He made the remarks while addressing a programme in Balrampur organised under the 'Shiksha ki Udaan' initiative, held to mark the first day of Shardiya Navratri and International Day of the Girl Child.

Tilak Ceremony and Cultural Context

The Chief Minister performed a 'tilak' ceremony for nine young girls, symbolising the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Honouring the daughters at the event, he stressed that Indian culture carries a longstanding tradition of revering 'Nari Shakti' (women's power). He invoked historical figures including Mata Kaushalya, Janaki, Shabari, Maitreyi, and Gargi, as well as freedom fighters such as Rani Lakshmibai, Avantibai Lodhi, Uda Devi Pasi, and Jhalkari Bai, to underscore the historical strength and agency of Indian women. He also noted that India granted women equal voting rights from the moment the Constitution was framed.

From Dropout Crisis to Uniforms for 1.60 Crore Children

'Prior to 2017, one in every five girls in the state would drop out of school after enrolment,' Yogi said, attributing the high dropout rate to an absence of basic infrastructure. He recalled that a government inquiry at the time found schools lacking toilets and drinking water, with 60 to 70 per cent of girls attending barefoot and many without winter sweaters.

Since his government took office in 2017, he said, the state has moved to provide 1.60 crore children annually with two uniforms, bags, books, sweaters, shoes, and socks. Separate toilets for boys and girls were mandated, drinking water access was ensured, and the quality of the mid-day meal was upgraded across government schools.

Operation Kayakalp and Digital Classrooms

Chief Minister Yogi highlighted 'Operation Kayakalp' as a transformative programme for government schools, covering improved flooring, furniture, smart classrooms, and digital libraries. 'Children who previously had no access to computers are now connecting with modern education,' he said. The initiative, he argued, is closing the infrastructure gap that had long kept rural and marginalised students out of quality schooling.

Women's Ownership and Economic Rights

On welfare policy, the Chief Minister stated that housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana is now credited in the name of the woman head of the household. Gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana are also issued in women's names. He added that the 'Gharauni' property-ownership records scheme has extended ownership rights to female members of families, reportedly benefiting over ten million families across Uttar Pradesh.

Viksit Bharat and What Comes Next

Yogi asserted that the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) can only be realised when the benefits of education, healthcare, employment, agriculture, and self-reliance reach every section of society without discrimination. The event underscored the state government's framing of girl-child education and women's economic empowerment as central — not peripheral — to its development agenda. How these commitments translate into measurable outcomes on enrolment retention and women's land ownership will be closely watched in the months ahead.