Dehradun: Women in Uttarakhand are increasingly coming together to establish businesses across various sectors, generating employment and promoting local products, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday. He was speaking at “Manthon-2025: 5th National Leaders’ Summit (Women’s Special)”, organized by Business Uttarayani at the Main Sevak Sadan, where outstanding women entrepreneurs and achievers were felicitated.
Summit Aimed at Encouraging Women Entrepreneurs
Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami said the summit was organized with the objective of encouraging women entrepreneurship and recognizing women who have made remarkable contributions in startups, self-reliance initiatives, and other sectors.
He said women, through their talent, hard work, and innovation, are playing a crucial role in advancing their families, society, and the state. “Women are today an integral part of Uttarakhand’s economic and social development,” the Chief Minister stated.
Government’s Commitment to Women Empowerment
CM Dhami highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women empowerment, guided by the mantra “Nari Tu Narayani.” He said several landmark initiatives have been implemented under the Prime Minister’s leadership, including:
- 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign
- Ujjwala Yojana
- Jan Dhan Yojana
- Lakhpati Didi Scheme
- Abolition of the Triple Talaq practice
He said women in New India are making their mark in industry, art, education, science, sports, research, and the armed forces.
Support for Women Entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Uttarakhand government is fully committed to the welfare of women, ensuring greater participation in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and self-employment.
Under the Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Yojana, products made by women self-help groups are being developed as recognized brands. More than 15,000 women entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and Lakhpati Didis are being provided incubation support.
He also highlighted the launch of the “House of Himalayas” umbrella brand, which promotes high-quality local products through e-commerce platforms and in-house retail stores.
Growing Network of Self-Help Groups
CM Dhami noted that nearly 70,000 self-help groups have been formed in the state, involving around 5 lakh women engaged in various businesses. In addition, over 7,000 village organizations and 500 cluster-level organizations are demonstrating a unique model of collective leadership.
He said that more than 1.68 lakh women in Uttarakhand have become Lakhpati Didis, creating a new chapter in women empowerment. To further support these efforts, the state government is developing a strong ecosystem for processing, packaging, and marketing of women-led products.
Women Making Mark in Startups and Governance
The Chief Minister said women in Uttarakhand are also achieving notable success in the startup ecosystem, with women-led startups excelling in traditional crafts, agriculture-based products, education, digital services, and technology.
He added that Uttarakhand has been placed in the ‘Achievers’ category for Ease of Doing Business and in the ‘Leaders’ category in the Startup Ranking.
CM Dhami further stated that the state has implemented 30% reservation for women in government services and has taken the historic step of becoming the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure women’s safety and protection of their rights.
Recognition of Women’s Contributions
The Chief Minister concluded by affirming that the state government will continue working with dedication to empower women and create more opportunities, ensuring that Uttarakhand’s women remain at the forefront of the state’s development journey.
