UP government takes a stand on women empowerment

Almost a year ago, a minister from Uttar Pradesh had announced that capital punishment for rapists was too harsh because young men are bound to make “mistakes.” This was followed by horrific sexual assault cases in the state, including one where two young women were found raped and dead, their bodies hanging from a tree. Thankfully, the UP government has now taken a strong stand on the issue of women empowerment and is planning to take concrete steps to promote it.

According to a report by PTI, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a state women empowerment mission. The idea is to implement women empowerment schemes being run by different departments in an integrated manner. This will be a 15-member mission, headed by the chief minister with the minister for women welfare as its vice chairman.

A spokesperson told PTI that other members would include ministers holding home, medical education, medical health and family welfare, housing and urban planning, agriculture, rural development, small industry, social welfare, primary education and other portfolios as its members.

This is a powerful step taken by the UP government since the state has a high rate of crimes committed against women. We hope other states follow this example and create better programmes to help promote women and their causes.

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