Nayi Chetna 4.0: Govt rolls out nationwide drive for women’s safety, dignity and livelihoods

Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched Nayi Chetna 4.0, the National Campaign on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, here on Tuesday.

Nayi Chetna 4.0 aims to strengthen community action against gender-based violence and promote women’s safety, dignity, and economic empowerment across rural India. The campaign focuses on enabling safe mobility, recognising women as key economic contributors, and addressing unpaid care work through shared community responsibility.

Advertisement

It further seeks to enhance women’s access to assets, credit, skills, and markets, thereby expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship and livelihoods. By advocating gender-responsive policies and budgets, the campaign ensures women’s voices shape decision-making at all levels, reinforcing DAY-NRLM’s commitment to equality and inclusive rural development.

Addressing the gathering, Chouhan reaffirmed the resolve to ensure that no woman remains in poverty, lives with tears in her eyes, and attains dignity, confidence, and prosperity as a ‘Lakhpati Didi’. He highlighted that more than two crore SHG women have already become Lakhpati Didis. He stated that the Government is consistently working towards realising this vision by strengthening women’s empowerment and expanding opportunities for rural women across the country.

An inter-ministerial joint advisory, signed by 11 collaborating Ministries/Departments — Ministry of Women and Child Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Department of Justice — was also unveiled at the launch event.

This advisory embodies the spirit of a “whole of government” approach, leveraging the strength of each collaborating Ministry/Department to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence.

In her address, Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi underscored that the Inter-Ministerial Tripartite MoU–Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Rural Development will advance the development of model villages under the Violence-Free Village Initiative, ensuring safety, rights, and empowering opportunities for girls and women in rural India.

The month-long campaign, organised by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development, will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until 23rd December 2025. This initiative, led by the extensive SHG network of DAY-NRLM, embodies the spirit of a Jan Andolan.

Two Gender champions from Bihar and Rajasthan shared their journeys of overcoming discrimination and leading change within their communities.