Indian thought has always viewed women as a source of strength, not weakness. Swami Vivekananda famously said that where women are respected, there the gods dwell. This is also the guiding principle for social progress, and the prosperity of a nation is possible only when half of its population is not only empowered towards self-reliance but also accorded due respect. At the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s social transformation is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of empowering women, and the Lokmata Ahilyabai Matra Shakti Yatra Yojana is another step in this direction. When the Chief Minister launched the scheme in Lucknow on Wednesday, it was, in a way, a tribute to Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, who was known for her just governance, compassion and commitment. By providing free bus travel to mothers and sisters aged 60 years and above, the Yogi government has made Devi Ahilyabai a symbol of respect for senior and elderly women in society.
The Yogi government’s journey of honouring women has many more milestones. On the occasion of the sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan, from August 27 to 29, mothers and sisters will be able to travel free of cost along with a companion. The Yogi government has been providing this facility to women during Raksha Bandhan for some time, reflecting its respect for the festival. The thread of Raksha Bandhan symbolises the affection between brothers and sisters. The government has woven security and convenience into that very thread. Imagine the face of an elderly woman who, for years, could not visit her brother’s home during a festival because the cost of travel was a burden. Now, that journey can be undertaken with dignity and self-respect. This policy is not merely about a concession on a bus ticket; it gives elderly women the feeling that the state stands alongside them in preserving their dignity.
The scene at the launch of the Matra Shakti scheme was particularly heartwarming when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presented women with smart cards, bags, sarees and sweets. It reflected the Indian ethos in which the giver offers with humility and the recipient accepts with honour. The Chief Minister flagging off the special buses, personally boarding a bus and taking selfies with the women, was proof that the scheme is not confined to government files but is alive on the ground. When leadership reaches out to the people and shares in their happiness, the distance between governance and society truly begins to disappear.
In the same vein, the Chief Minister’s announcement that 50,000 daughters pursuing undergraduate studies will be provided scooters in October-November is also highly significant. This scheme is not merely about providing a vehicle; it is about ensuring young women’s independent mobility, uninterrupted access to education and greater confidence. A girl who may once have hesitated to travel to a distant college because the route did not seem safe or adequate transport was unavailable will now be able to ride her own scooty towards her dreams. The scheme seeks to bridge the distance between education and self-reliance.
The true measure of respect lies in how much opportunity, security and freedom we provide to women. Respect without empowerment remains hollow. When a woman becomes economically capable, her dignity is naturally strengthened, because dependence weakens dignity while self-reliance reinforces it. Since coming to power, the Yogi government has sought to instil in women the awareness that they are capable and empowered. The result is that women are now participating in everything from the kitchen to cheques, from cheques to businesses, and from businesses to technology. This journey begins when a woman opens her first bank account, progresses when she joins a self-help group and starts a small enterprise, and reaches another milestone when she becomes a role model for society. Women making digital payments, learning online marketing and speaking the language of technology are all part of this journey. Uttar Pradesh, where women constitute nearly half of its population of around 125 million, is witnessing a transformed social landscape, and this change is clearly visible.
This journey of convenience, security, dignity, self-reliance and leadership embraces the philosophy of our great thinkers. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Integral Humanism holds that the holistic progress of a family and society is possible only when every unit of it, particularly women, is empowered and self-reliant. We must remember that empowerment does not come merely through financial assistance; it emerges from the combination of dignity and opportunity. When an elderly woman can visit her family without the burden of travel expenses, and when a young daughter can reach her college on her own vehicle, it is not merely a matter of convenience; it is the restoration of self-respect. In Indian tradition, women are regarded as embodiments of Shakti, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the confluence of strength, prosperity and knowledge. These schemes seek to translate that very confluence into reality. Bus travel gives elderly women greater mobility and agency, scooties give daughters access to knowledge, and self-employment schemes open the doors to prosperity.
About the Author: Sudha Modi is a Social Worker and Entrepreneur. Combining business acumen with community advocacy, her work focuses on social development, women's empowerment, and grassroots initiative initiatives.
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