Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, inaugurated the fourth edition of “Nayi Chetna – Initiative for Change” today. This national campaign aims to foster gender equality and women’s empowerment. On this occasion, Union Minister of State Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, and Rural Development Secretary Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh were also present.

At the event held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Union Minister Shri Chouhan stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is undertaking many concrete initiatives for the economic and social empowerment of women. He explained that this campaign has evolved into a mass movement to bolster the security, dignity, and economic participation of women in rural India. Shri Chouhan emphasised that the ‘Nayi Chetna’ campaign promotes respect, safety, and self-reliance for women. It is our duty to ensure women’s voices are heard at every level of society and governance.

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh stressed the urgent need to change prevailing discriminatory attitudes towards daughters. He noted that significant work is ongoing under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for women’s economic, social, and educational empowerment. The government is consistently running initiatives such as the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam”.

Expressing pride, Shri Shivraj Singh highlighted that ‘Lakhpati Didis’ are now able to fly high when given opportunities, thanks to the exemplary work being done by Self-Help Groups. More than 20 million women have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’. He further stated that no woman in the country shall remain poor under the Prime Minister’s leadership. “Our effort is to ensure no woman ever has tears in her eyes. No one should have to beg; every woman should smile, and we are working to make every woman a ‘Lakhpati Didi’. Nothing can stop the progress of women, and our Didis are continuously working toward this goal,” he said.

Shri Shivraj Singh asserted that mindsets that see daughters in a negative light must be changed, and such elements, if necessary, must be eliminated. He mentioned that a broad-based public campaign will be launched to establish violence-free villages, and violence against women will not be tolerated in any circumstance. In today’s era, violence is truly distressing. “Women are divine; without respect for women’s dignity, neither country nor society can progress,” he said.

He furthermore indicated that one of the major causes of violence is addiction. Addiction is the root of all evils; women must create awareness against substance abuse across villages. The government, together with society and especially women, needs to commit to making this a campaign.

The campaign’s objective is to spread awareness against gender-based violence through community-based action, encourage safe mobility for women, recognise women’s economic contributions, and promote shared responsibility for domestic work. Empowering women is a core part of this initiative.

This national campaign is being organised under the Ministry of Rural Development’s DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission) and will continue across all states and union territories until December 23, 2025. The vast network of Self-Help Groups across the country is leading the campaign.

During the programme, a joint advisory was issued, signed by eleven ministries/departments: Ministry of Women & Child Development, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Department of Justice. 

This initiative exemplifies the ‘Whole of Government’ approach, harnessing the collective power of all ministries to eradicate gender discrimination and violence.

Representatives from various ministries and departments, state officials from Rural Livelihood Missions, women self-help group members from across the country, Anganwadi workers, and partner civil society organisations attended the programme, powerfully demonstrating the government’s shared commitment for gender equality and rural development.

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MS