On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024, the state government took a revolutionary step to ensure women’s dignity and empowerment by announcing the New Women’s Policy, 2024. In the new policy, the state government decided that from then on, individuals’ names on the government data would include their mother’s name too, in addition to the father’s name. And, leading by example was the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who announced the inclusion of his mother’s name in his name. This action taken by Devendra Fadnavis was not just personal, but also to recognize his mother’s role in his life and initiate a change in the society that has run in a patriarchal system from generation to generation.
Honor to all the mothers in the state!
His mother’s role has been very crucial in the life of Devendra Fadnavis, who lost his father at an early age and grew up under his mother’s aegis. The influence of his mother has always been the North Star for Fadnavis in his journey from a young corporator in Nagpur to three-time Chief Minister of the state. Besides the power and fame, he has earned many honors and accolades, but Devendraji has never forgotten to acknowledge his mother’s role in shaping his life. On International Women’s Day, Devendraji’s love and respect for his mother rose to a special height when he announced the inclusion of his mother’s name in his formal name, to be identified by his mother’s name as well. This may look like merely satisfying a personal wish, but it has a huge message of reinstating the position of women and mothers in a patriarchal society like ours. Echoing the thought, the state government has also made it mandatory for its citizens to include their mother’s first name, in addition to their father’s first name, in their formal names in the government records, to honor all mothers in the state.
Government policy to prioritize women’s empowerment
Maharashtra is a leading state and has shown the way to the country on many occasions. Many social reformers in the state have raised their voices for women’s rights and education in the past and now the social scientists are linking the same to societal progress and economic growth of the families, clusters, and regions. This has prompted the government under the progressive CM Fadnavis to start several schemes focused on women’s empowerment in the state. Today, through these schemes, the number of women’s self-help groups in Maharashtra has increased significantly. They are being provided with capital and financial assistance to start businesses. A 1% discount on stamp duty for women house purchasers and a 50% discount on ST bus fares for women passengers in the rural areas are some of the important initiatives by this government towards the social and economic independence of the women. Also noteworthy is the Shakti Sadan scheme, which provides safe accommodations for relief and rehabilitation of the women in distress. Women’s empowerment has been incorporated among the primary goals of this government.
‘Lek Ladki’ scheme for the future of girls
The ‘Lek Ladki’ scheme, which ensures the financial security of the girl children in the state for their education and other needs, was announced in the 2023-24 budget to support the birth of girl babies. Devendra Fadnavis, then the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, made a provision to provide financial assistance, totaling Rs. 101,000 in phases, to every newborn girl until she becomes 18 years of age, through this scheme. This will help prevent the mortality rate of girl babies, reduce child marriage, and improve education rates for girls in the rural areas.
Recognition of women’s freedom should start in the family
Gender equality is currently only on paper, and there is a need to imbibe it in families by teaching the value that girls and boys are equal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the context of International Women’s Day. On the personal front, Fadnavis is a loving father of a daughter and a liberal husband who supports his wife’s freedom of expression and freedom to work in her chosen field. Women’s freedom and empowerment help unlock the full potential of women and foster a more inclusive and prosperous society, and for this to happen, it is important that men change their mentality to support women’s empowerment in their families. The several women-centric schemes of the Maharashtra government are designed to establish women’s position in society.
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