Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh had emerged as a “new symbol of women’s safety and empowerment” since 2017, citing stricter law enforcement measures, technology-backed policing and women-centric schemes implemented by his govt.In a post on social media platform X on the second day of Navratri, Yogi said he offered prayers to Maa Brahmacharini and drew a message of determination from the deity’s worship. He wrote that prayers to Maa Brahmacharini teach that goals that appear impossible can be achieved through strong resolve, and linked that message to what he described as a transformation in the state’s law and order situation.“UP, where there were serious questions over women’s safety before 2017, has today emerged as a new symbol of women’s safety and empowerment,” he said. Yogi credited the govt’s “zero-tolerance policy” towards crime and criminals, technology-based surveillance, prompt police action and public awareness campaigns for creating what he called a fear-free environment for women.He listed Mission Shakti, the Safe City Project, Mission Shakti Centres and women beat policing as initiatives that provided a comprehensive framework to improve safety and support systems for women across the state.Yogi also highlighted the increased participation of women in policing, stating that a 20% reservation for women in Uttar Pradesh Police had been provided and that the number of women personnel had risen from around 10,000 to 44,000. He added that exclusive women battalions had been formed and named after women icons including Veerangana Uda Devi Pasi, Veerangana Jhalkari Bai Kori and Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi.“The double engine govt’s tireless journey from women’s safety to empowerment is realising the resolve of ‘Empowered Women, Prosperous Uttar Pradesh’,” he said.
