Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and welfare while honouring achievers at the Rajya Stree Shakti, Teelu Rauteli and Anganwadi Worker Award Ceremony held at the IRDT Auditorium in Dehradun today.
Awards to Women Achievers and Anganwadi Workers
Our Correspondent reports, A total of 13 women were presented with the Teelu Rauteli Award for their outstanding work across different fields. Alongside them, 33 Anganwadi workers were recognised for their exemplary service in early childhood care and community development.
Paying tribute to the legendary Veerangana Teelu Rauteli, the Chief Minister said she displayed extraordinary courage at just 15 years of age. “It would not be an exaggeration to call her the Jhansi ki Rani of Uttarakhand,” Dhami remarked.
Tribute to Women-Centric Policies
The Chief Minister underlined the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in empowering women through reforms and flagship programmes. He highlighted initiatives such as Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Triple Talaq abolition, and 33% reservation for women in legislatures, saying these have transformed women’s status socially and economically.
State-Level Initiatives for Women’s Welfare
CM Dhami listed measures taken by the state government to support women, including:
30% reservation for women in government services.
First state to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to safeguard women’s rights.
Interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh for women’s self-help groups.
Increase in Teelu Rauteli Award prize money from ₹31,000 to ₹51,000.
Enhancement of Anganwadi Award prize money from ₹21,000 to ₹51,000.
Significant increase in honorarium for Anganwadi workers, mini workers, and helpers.
Provision for promotion of Anganwadi workers to supervisor posts.
“Our government will continue to work with full strength, dedication, and commitment to protect women’s rights and dignity,” the Chief Minister assured.
Role of Anganwadi Centres
Highlighting the crucial contribution of Anganwadi centres, Dhami noted that they play a vital role in a child’s early education and values, especially in rural areas. He recalled how even his own children received their initial learning through Anganwadi centres.
Teelu Rauteli Awardees with CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
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Teelu Rauteli Awardees
Women’s Contribution to Economy
The Chief Minister praised the achievements of women’s self-help groups, particularly products under the House of Himalayas brand, which he said are now competing with multinational companies. He also referred to Prime Minister Modi’s statement from Kedarnath that the third decade of the 21st century belongs to Uttarakhand, emphasising that women’s groups will play a pivotal role in this transformation.
Disaster Relief and Resilience
Dhami informed the gathering that the programme, originally scheduled for August 8, was postponed due to natural disasters. He assured that the state government, with full support from the Centre, is working tirelessly to assist disaster-affected families.
Leaders Present
Our Correspondent adds, Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya praised the Dhami government for historic steps in women’s welfare, particularly the enhancement of Anganwadi workers’ honorarium. The event was also attended by MLA Khajan Das, senior officials including Chandresh Kumar and Banshilal Rana, and a large number of women beneficiaries.
Teelu Rauteli Awardees
Women from across all 13 districts were honoured. The awardees included:
