In a significant initiative to promote girl child education, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Balika Shiksha Protsahan Programme organised at the Chief Sevak Sadan, Chief Minister’s Camp Office, on the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child. The event was hosted by the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development.
In a grand ceremony, the Chief Minister distributed smartphones to 326 meritorious girl students from across the state. He also honoured the top three district-level girl toppers of high school and intermediate examinations and the block-level toppers, recognising their academic excellence and perseverance.
Extending greetings on the occasion, the Chief Minister lauded the achievements of the state’s girl students. He noted that in the high school board examinations, 90 per cent of students passed, with the success rate of girls exceeding 93 per cent, while in the intermediate examinations, 83 per cent students passed overall, and the success rate of girls was above 86 per cent.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister emphasised that the progress of society is directly linked to the empowerment of women. “If the women of a state are progressing, no power can stop that state’s development,” he said, adding that an educated girl ensures a bright future for generations to come.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state has launched multiple initiatives for women’s empowerment, including 30 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, the Mukhyamantri Nari Sashaktikaran Yojana, Mukhyamantri Mahalaxmi Yojana, Mukhyamantri Vatsalya Yojana, and Nanda Gaura Yojana. He said these programmes are helping women and girls in Uttarakhand achieve self-reliance through self-help groups, startups, and small-scale enterprises.
Our correspondent adds that Dhami also praised the Central Government’s women-centric schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Balika Samriddhi Yojana, and the recently passed Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He said that through the Ujjwala Yojana and Lakhpati Didi initiative, the nation has honoured and strengthened the role of women in every sphere of life.
The Chief Minister further stated that Uttarakhand is promoting girl education through schemes like construction of women’s hostels, a free bicycle scheme, and the ongoing Balika Shiksha Protsahan Programme. He mentioned that the state government has implemented India’s strictest anti-cheating law, ensuring fair recruitment processes. “Over 25,000 youths have secured government jobs in the past four years,” he said, attributing this success to transparent governance.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Development Rekha Arya said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, remarkable progress has been made in empowering women. She said the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign has significantly improved the sex ratio in the state, encouraging girl child births and education.
MLA Savita Kapoor, Vice Chairman of the State Medicinal Plant Board Pratap Singh Panwar, Secretary Chandresh Kumar, and other senior officials from the Women Empowerment and Child Development Department attended the event.
The Chief Minister concluded that every daughter of Uttarakhand represents the strength and potential of the state and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building a society where girls have equal opportunities to study, grow, and lead.
