Uttarakhand News: Women Empowerment Should Not Be Politicised: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Assembly

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged Assembly members to back a unanimous resolution for early 33% women’s reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies. He cited the Nari Shakti Vandan Act of 2023, highlighted gender-budget increases, and outlined state initiatives that boost women’s empowerment and leadership roles.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that efforts aimed at women empowerment should rise above political considerations. Addressing a special session of the Assembly on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam under the theme "Respect for Women – Rights in Democracy," he urged all members to support a unanimous resolution backing the early implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

The Chief Minister emphasized that women today are not just participants but are increasingly taking up leadership roles. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Nari Shakti Vandan Act in 2023 to ensure greater representation of women in legislative bodies. He also called for collective cooperation from all political parties to implement the reform effectively.

Dhami alleged that opposition parties had stalled the passage of the bill in Parliament and were now attempting to create confusion among the public regarding women’s reservation. He said that despite being in power for decades, opposition parties failed to take concrete steps to ensure women’s representation. He cited clarifications made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha, stating that no state would face discrimination during delimitation and that provisions to increase seats were included in the bill.

Focus on women-centric policies

Highlighting the Centre’s efforts, the Chief Minister said that since 2014, women empowerment has been a key priority. He pointed out that the gender budget has increased significantly over the years, with more than ₹5 lakh crore allocated in the 2026–27 budget for the welfare of women and girls. He added that initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao have contributed to improvements in the gender ratio and girls’ education. Institutional deliveries have also seen a sharp rise, indicating better healthcare access for women.

Benefits for Uttarakhand

Dhami said that the proposed reservation would have significantly benefited Uttarakhand. After delimitation, Assembly seats could have increased to 105, with around 35 reserved for women. Similarly, the number of MPs from the state could have risen from five to seven or eight. He also highlighted state-level initiatives, noting that around ₹20,000 crore has been allocated under the gender budget this year, marking a 16% increase. Schemes such as the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission, Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana, and the Chief Minister Women Self-Help Group Empowerment Scheme are helping women become self-reliant. Interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh are being provided to self-help groups, while financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh is available under the Single Woman Self-Employment Scheme.

Confidence in future reforms

Concluding his address, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women will soon receive their full rights. He said the government remains committed to ensuring greater participation and empowerment of women across sectors.