Union Ministers Launch ‘Nayi Chetna 4.0’ Campaign for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Joint Advisory from 11 Ministries to Promote Inter-Ministerial Cooperation

Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Smt. Annapurna Devi inaugurated the fourth edition of “Nayi Chetna – Initiative for Change” today. The national campaign aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Union Minister of State Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, and Rural Development Secretary Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh were also present at the event.

The programme was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Union Minister Shri Chouhan stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is implementing initiatives for the economic and social empowerment of women. He highlighted that the campaign has evolved into a mass movement focused on enhancing the security, dignity, and economic participation of women in rural areas. Shri Chouhan emphasised that the campaign promotes respect, safety, and self-reliance for women and called for ensuring women’s voices are heard at every level of society and governance.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the need to change discriminatory attitudes towards daughters. He noted ongoing efforts under the Prime Minister for women’s economic, social, and educational empowerment, including initiatives like the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam”.

Shri Chouhan also expressed that Self-Help Groups have enabled the rise of ‘Lakhpati Didis’, with over 20 million women now benefitting. He stated that no woman should remain poor under the Prime Minister’s leadership and emphasised the government’s efforts to ensure women do not face hardship. “Our effort is to ensure no woman ever has tears in her eyes. Every woman should have the opportunity to prosper, and we are working to make every woman a ‘Lakhpati Didi’,” he said.

He further stated that negative mindsets towards daughters must be changed and such elements, if necessary, must be addressed. A mass campaign for violence-free villages will be launched, and violence against women will not be tolerated. Shri Chouhan added that addiction is a major cause of social evils and urged women to raise awareness against substance abuse in villages.

Objectives of the Campaign

The campaign seeks to raise awareness against gender-based violence through community-based actions, ensure safe mobility for women, recognise their economic contributions, and promote shared responsibility for domestic work. Empowering women is a central focus of the initiative.

Organised under the Ministry of Rural Development’s DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission), the campaign will continue across all states and union territories until December 23, 2025. The network of Self-Help Groups across the country is leading the initiative.

Joint Advisory and Inter-Ministerial Coordination

During the programme, a joint advisory was issued and signed by eleven ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Department of Justice. This advisory reflects a ‘Whole of Government’ approach to address gender discrimination and violence.

Representatives from various ministries and departments, state officials from Rural Livelihood Missions, women Self-Help Group members, Anganwadi workers, and partner civil society organisations attended the programme, demonstrating collective commitment to gender equality and rural development.