Women’s Empowerment at the Heart of Uttar Pradesh’s Development, Says Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has placed women’s safety, dignity and economic participation at the centre of the state’s development agenda, saying the state has undergone a major transformation in law and order since 2017. In his Mahanavami message, he contrasted the situation before the BJP came to power with what he described as a safer environment for women under his government.

In a message posted on X, Adityanath invoked Maa Siddhidatri and said women were playing an increasingly important role in Uttar Pradesh’s progress through their confidence, determination and abilities. Linking the occasion to the broader vision of “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Uttar Pradesh”, he described the state’s journey as a transition from “Sankalp to Siddhi” and reiterated that women’s empowerment was essential to long-term prosperity.

Yogi Highlights Changes in Women’s Safety

Adityanath alleged that before 2017, riots, curfews, disturbances during festivals and the influence of criminal elements had created an atmosphere of insecurity. He claimed that some parents felt compelled to send their daughters to other states because they were concerned about their safety.

According to the chief minister, the government adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crime after 2017, with a focus on restoring the rule of law. He said the state had moved towards what he called “Utsav Pradesh”, where festivals and public events could take place in a more secure environment.

The chief minister also stressed the importance of respecting women, saying that social well-being and prosperity depend on how women are treated. He linked government initiatives focused on safety, dignity and self-reliance to the changing image of Uttar Pradesh and its growing role in the national economy.

Government Cites Economic Growth and Investment

Alongside women’s empowerment, Adityanath highlighted economic indicators to underline the scale of change he attributed to his government. He claimed that since 2017, the state’s gross state domestic product (GSDP), per capita income, budget and female labour force participation had each tripled.

He also said Uttar Pradesh had received investment proposals worth more than ₹50 lakh crore, while the number of large factories had increased from 14,000 to 35,000. According to the chief minister, these investments had generated employment for more than 65 lakh people.

Adityanath pointed to the Defence Industrial Corridor as another part of the state’s push towards greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He said industrial expansion and infrastructure development were helping create new opportunities for employment and economic activity.

Expressways, Agriculture and Jobs in Focus

The chief minister also cited infrastructure and employment figures to support his assessment of the state’s progress. He claimed Uttar Pradesh accounts for 60% of India’s total expressway network and said the state’s agricultural growth rate had risen from 8% to 18%.

On employment, Adityanath said the government had provided 9.5 lakh jobs through what he described as fair and transparent recruitment. He added that the number of start-ups in the state had grown from 120 to more than 24,000.

He further claimed that the revival of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector had created more than three crore employment opportunities. These figures, presented as part of the government’s development record, formed a central part of his message on the state’s economic transformation.

‘Empowered Women, Prosperous UP’

Reiterating the government’s stated priorities, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh’s progress depended on strengthening women’s safety, independence and participation in public and economic life.

His Mahanavami message brought together two themes central to the government’s development narrative: improved law and order and economic expansion. He reaffirmed the commitment to “Empowered Women, Prosperous UP” and the wider goal of building a “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Uttar Pradesh”.

The claims and figures cited in the message reflect the chief minister’s account of the state’s progress; they were not independently verified in the material provided.