Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan’ (Women’s Empowerment Conference), held at Vigyan Bhawan on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking on the occasion, CM Rekha Gupta stated that women play a pivotal role in the nation’s progress, development, and in establishing India’s identity on the global stage. She welcomed and expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the visionary policies formulated to empower women.
Highlighting the long and difficult journey of Indian women, the Chief Minister noted that society has moved past challenges such as sati, child marriage, illiteracy, and female foeticide. “There was a time when even the existence of daughters was under threat. Today, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the country has moved beyond ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ to an era of ‘Beti Badhao’,” she said. Referring to changes since 2014, Gupta said women’s dignity and safety have been placed at the centre of governance. She described initiatives such as household toilets under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, smoke-free kitchens through the Ujjwala scheme, and financial inclusion via Jan Dhan accounts as major milestones in improving women’s lives. She added that women today are not only advancing in education and nutrition, but are also serving in the armed forces, even flying fighter jets to defend the country.
Citing examples like Lt. Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman, Gupta said assigning women key portfolios such as external affairs and finance demonstrates that leadership and decision-making are not limited by gender. Calling the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ historic, she said the provision of 33% reservation for women in state assemblies and Parliament is not just a legislative reform, but a step towards ensuring their active role in decision-making. “This will open up leadership opportunities for nearly 700 million women in the country,” she added.
The Chief Minister also urged women present at the event to support the initiative. She appealed to them to join the campaign by giving a missed call on 9667173333 and strengthening the vision of women-led development. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, Minister of State Savitri Thakur, and National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar were also present at the event, along with women representatives from across the country.