AGRA: Celebrating nine years of transformative rule under CM Yogi Adityanath, Women and Child Development Minister Baby Rani Maurya painted a vivid picture of empowerment during a media briefing in Agra on Sunday. What began as ambitious promises has evolved into concrete outcomes, she said, positioning UP as a national leader in women’s progress.
Maurya’s department showcased milestones: from cradle-to-career support via Kanya Sumangala benefiting 26.81 lakh girls, to orphan care under Bal Seva Yojana for 1.05 lakh children and family reunions through Mission Vatsalya for another lakh. ‘Our children are investments in tomorrow,’ she noted.
Health metrics tell a success story. PM Matru Vandana Yojana reached 60 lakh mothers, with rural deliveries fetching Rs 1400 and urban Rs 1000, elevating institutional births to 84%. Child malnutrition indicators improved dramatically—stunting down 6.6%, underweight by 7.5%—thanks to nutrition for 2.12 crore beneficiaries and digital tracking at anganwadis.
Safety nets are tighter than ever. UP-112’s lightning-fast 6:41 response contrasts sharply with 2016’s sluggish hour-plus. Crime against women plunged: rapes -33.92%, abductions -17.03%, domestic abuse -9.54%. Women comprise 44,000+ in police ranks via 20% quota, with specialized units like Anti-Romeo Squads and new PAC battalions.
The economic revolution steals the show. 1 crore+ in SHGs, 18.55 lakh Lakhpati Didis, BC Sakhis handling Rs 42,711 crore transactions for Rs 116 crore commissions, and electricity Sakhis thriving. Labor force participation for women jumped from 13% to 36%, fueled by industrial reforms.
Looking ahead, anganwadi staff get pay raises by 2026, insurance, and pre-school upgrades for 1.9 lakh centers. 5.2 lakh girls married via collective schemes. Maurya wrapped up: Yogi’s honest execution has empowered UP’s women, making ‘secure, skilled, independent’ the new mantra for prosperity.