CM sets target of 30% women's

participation, special focus on five poorly performing districts

Positive trends in 27 of 45 indicators,

improvement in all five indicators of MSME department

Lucknow, Nov 04 (HS): Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, efforts to

make women economically self-reliant and increase their participation in

government schemes in UP are now being assessed using data. With this

objective, state's Planning Department has prepared Women Economic Empowerment

Index 2.0 for the financial year 2025-26. Through this index, the state is

conducting a district-wise assessment of women's participation in

entrepreneurship, employment, education and skill development, livelihood,

safety, and mobility-related facilities.

The objective of this index, prepared at

the initiative of the Yogi government, is not merely to collect data on scheme

implementation but also to assess the extent to which their benefits reach

women. For this purpose, 49 indicators have been identified based on data

received from 15 departments. These indicators highlight scheme outcomes

related to women's participation.

On July 8, 2025, while reviewing the first

edition of Women Economic Empowerment Index, CM Yogi had directed all departments

to set a target of 30% women's participation in their schemes. He had also

instructed that a special campaign be conducted in the five lowest-performing

districts and that all departments prepare and implement Gender Action Plans.

In this direction, second edition of the index analyses data for the financial

year 2025-26.

Women Economic Empowerment Index divides

women's economic empowerment into five key areas. Education and skill

development has been assigned a weightage of 22.4%, entrepreneurship 22.1%,

employment 21.9%, livelihood 17.4%, and mobility, safety, and inclusive

infrastructure 16.1%. Under this, the department assesses women's participation

in ODOP, Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana,

PM SVANidhi, Self-Help Groups, ITIs, polytechnics, employment fairs, and other

schemes.

According to data from Rural Development

Department, women's share in achieving the target of providing revolving funds

to Self-Help Groups increased from 38% in the financial year 2023-24 to 65.3%

in 2025-26. The proportion of rural households linked to Self-Help Groups also

increased from 24.9% to 28%. According to data from MSME and Export Promotion

Department, number of women entrepreneurs registered on the Udyam Portal

increased from 1.87 lakh in 2023-24 to 2.90 lakh in 2025-26. Women's

participation in ODOP Training and Toolkit Program increased from 58.2% to

63.1%, while participation in Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana rose from 49.5%

to 63.3%.

Digital participation among women street vendors

under the PM SVANidhi Yojana also increased. In the financial year 2023-24, 54%

of women beneficiaries were digitally active, which increased to 69% in

2025-26. Meanwhile, the proportion of women beneficiaries who received loans

under the third instalment increased from 12% to 17%.

An analysis of trends across the 45

indicators included in the index revealed positive progress in 27 indicators,

negative trends in 15 and a stable position in three. All five indicators of

the MSME Department showed positive trends. Positive progress was also observed

in all three indicators of Urban Development Department and both indicators of

the Institutional Finance Department.

The Women Economic Empowerment Index is

used to compare district performance and identify areas requiring improvement.

The process of appointing nodal officers at departmental level, developing a

dashboard on Planning Department's platform and preparing sector-wise Gender

Action Plans has been taken forward. Sector-specific action plans have also

been developed for Transport and Vocational Education.

The objective of this system, introduced by

the Yogi government, is not only to make women beneficiaries of government

schemes but also to provide them with greater opportunities for participation

in employment, entrepreneurship, skills, and economic decision-making. Regular

analysis of district-wise data is used to identify shortcomings in schemes and

take corrective measures.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi