Balrampur: Oct 17 (UNI) Reiterating his government commitment towards dignity, safety and empowerment of women and girls of the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday launched the ambitious state-wide ‘Mission Shakti’ programme with a stern warning to those who perpetrate crimes against them.
Inaugurating the programme here, to be continued for next six months till Basant Navratra, he said his government has zero-tolerance towards the crime against women and girls. “ Those who cast an evil eye on the dignity and self respect of women will find no place in the state. Perpetrators of such crimes are blot on the society and the government will deal with them with a heavy hand,’’ he thundered while making an impassionate address about women safety, security and dignity.
The CM, who launched the ‘Mission Shakti’ from Balrampur, the work place of former prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, described the women as a symbol of `Shakti’ “Women are venerable in our eternal tradition and Navratras signifies this. In the changing times, the new generation should become the carrier of our eternal tradition which always professes the cause of women as the prime duty of the mankind,” he pointed out.
He said that the ‘Mission Shakti’ is a reminder of our duty towards women and girls. Asserting to bring home the issue of gender equality and terming the female feticide as a curse, the CM said the girl protection and respect should start from home itself and we all should realise that there is nothing like gender discrimination.
The CM also expressed his strong views against child marriage and said these rituals should be publicly condemned. He said that with the schemes such as `Samuhik Vivah Yojana,’, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, and `Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumagala Yojana’, of the Central and the state government are in place to ensure women upliftment and collective welfare. The CM also put emphasis on the facilities provided by the government to protect the women and girls and asked them to approach those when in distress. “ In case of violence against women, 1090, 1070 and 112 and 189 numbers are always at their service,’’ he informed.
Terming the recent Balrampur incident against the girl as `unfortunate’, the CM said that `Mission Shakti’ is a tribute to her. “ The first phase of `Mission Shakti’ will focus on spreading awareness towards ensuring safety and dignity to women and girl child. In the second phase `Operation Shakti’, will target eve teasers and put them to punishment or reforms. If such elements do not mend their ways, they will have to face social boycott and their pictures will be displayed publicly.
The Chief Minister said that this year, the Ram Lila and Durga Puja Pandals will also spread the message of ‘Mission Shakti’ which will have involvement of 24 departments . Various events are lined up during this programme during which 100 role models among the women lot will be identified in each district to help spread message of women safety, self-respect and self-reliance.
