Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Central and state governments were committed to women empowerment and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign was being run across the country and it had brought about a positive change in the thinking of society towards daughters.
“Every section of the society is making its daughters strong and capable. Now every daughter will survive and all the daughters will study, so that she will be seen herself monitoring the path of respect and self-reliance in the society. The consciousness of society will help them in taking forward the daughters. Many programmes being run for the safety of daughters, including Mother Vandana, are giving us a new direction. The Mission Shakti programme run by the state government is a campaign related to protection, respect and self-reliance of mother power,” the chief minister said while addressing media representatives in Gorakhpur soon after performing `Kanya Pujan’ on Thursday.
Yogi said that the festival of Navratri was the most powerful means of showing respect for `Maa' (mother) in the Sanatan tradition of India and this holy feeling should come within every person. “We have to add this tradition in our sanskars. If we take the form of the Goddess, whom we worship in general, in a practical way, then along with mother power, there will be an increase in security, respect and self-reliance of sisters, daughters. Every citizen has to change his attitude towards the girl child and women as she is strong and can lead in every field and can also properly guide the society. Along with safety of the girl child, the campaign will have to be carried forward for education, health and their self-reliance and respect,” he said.
“The importance of worshiping Goddess, the presiding deity of Shakti, shows that Adi Shakti is the basis of the power of this world. Since time immemorial, the Sanatan tradition of India has been organising Basantik Navratri and Shardiya Navratri two times in a year as a form of worship and rituals for the Goddess of power. Every Indian feels proud of the legacy of thousands of years. Mother power has an invaluable contribution in the upgradation of our civilization, culture and rites. It is the good fortune of all of us that in the Mahanavami of Shardiya Navratri, we get a holy opportunity to worship Goddess Swaroopa Kumari girls,” he explained.
The chief minister further said, “The state government has initiated many steps for empowering women. Education of girls up to graduation has been made free in the state. Through Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, the government is providing financial assistance of Rs 15,000 in six installments from the girl’s birth to her graduation. So far 10 lakh girls have benefited from this scheme. Similarly, the state government has successfully organised marriages of more than 1.75 lakh poor girls through the Mukhyamantri Samaj Vivah Yojana.”
Extending his warm greetings and best wishes to the people of the state, the chief minister said that Navratri was a symbol of victory of religion and truth over unrighteousness. “This festival gives inspiration to all of us to move forward on the path of truth and religion. The path of dharma inspires and encourages us to move forward towards our duties,” he said and added that where there was truth and justice, there would definitely be victory.
