Uttarakhand CM Advocates for Women's Empowerment and Reservation Bill

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized the need for a unified political approach towards women's empowerment. He urged all political parties to set aside their differences while discussing the proposed 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. Addressing a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly titled 'Nari Samman - Rights in Democracy,' Dhami expressed support for the central government's efforts to expedite the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill and presented a unanimous resolution in favor of this legislation. He described the bill as a transformative step aimed not only at increasing women's representation but also at ensuring their role in policy-making. Dhami criticized opposition parties for allegedly attempting to obstruct the bill in Parliament and accused them of spreading confusion regarding the issue. He asserted that provisions like delimitation would not harm any state, clarifying that the central government has made this clear in Parliament.

Discussing the central government's initiatives, Dhami noted a significant increase in 'gender budgeting' over the past decade, with over ₹5 lakh crore allocated for women's and children's welfare in the 2026-27 budget. He highlighted various schemes such as 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,' 'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana,' and the 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana,' along with measures like the ban on triple talaq, as steps taken to empower women socially and economically. Specifically addressing Uttarakhand, Dhami mentioned that the state government has allocated approximately ₹20,000 crore under gender budgeting this year and is promoting women's self-reliance through livelihood missions and self-help group initiatives. He further stated that over 265,000 women in the state have become 'Lakshmi Didis' (women earning at least ₹1 lakh annually). Additionally, he revealed that a 30% reservation for women in government jobs and 33% in cooperative institutions has been implemented, along with the establishment of a women's sports college in Lohaghat at a cost of around ₹256 crore.

The Chief Minister also defended the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, stating that it aims to eliminate practices such as triple talaq and polygamy. He urged opposition parties to adopt a positive stance on the issue of women's reservation, emphasizing that the goal of achieving equal political representation for women will ultimately be fulfilled.