Overview
The Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched Nayi Chetna 4.0, the National Campaign on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, on 25th November 2025, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. This initiative aims to strengthen community action against gender-based violence and promote women’s safety, dignity, and economic empowerment across rural India.
Key Objectives
- Strengthening community action against gender-based violence.
- Promoting women’s safety and dignity.
- Enhancing women’s economic empowerment across rural India.
Key Developments
Launch Event Highlights
The launch event was attended by key dignitaries, including the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, the Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, and the Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan.
Ministerial Addresses
- Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan reaffirmed the Prime Minister’s resolve to ensure women's dignity, confidence, and prosperity as Lakhpati Didis.
- Smt. Annpurna Devi underscored the importance of the Inter-Ministerial Tripartite MoU in advancing the Violence-Free Village Initiative.
- Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani highlighted the transformative power of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in empowering rural women.
- Shri Kamlesh Paswan emphasized the pivotal role of education in addressing gender inequality.
Inter-Ministerial Collaboration
An inter-ministerial joint advisory, signed by eleven collaborating Ministries/Departments, was unveiled. This advisory embodies a "whole of government" approach to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence. The collaborating ministries include:
- Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Department of School Education and Literacy
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Department of Justice
Violence-Free Village Initiative
The Inter-Ministerial Tripartite MoU–Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Law & Justice, and the Ministry of Rural Development will advance the development of model villages under the Violence-Free Village Initiative, ensuring safety, rights, and empowering opportunities for girls and women in rural India.
Campaign Details
Duration and Reach
The month-long campaign, organized by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development, will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until 23rd December 2025. This initiative is led by the extensive SHG network of DAY-NRLM.
Focus Areas
- Enabling safe mobility for women.
- Recognizing women as key economic contributors.
- Addressing unpaid care work through shared community responsibility.
- Enhancing women’s access to assets, credit, skills, and markets.
- Advocating gender-responsive policies and budgets.
UPSC Relevance
This initiative is relevant to GS1 (Social Empowerment), GS2 (Government Policies & Social Justice), and GS3 (Inclusive Growth). It highlights the government's focus on empowering women through SHGs and addressing gender-based violence, which are critical topics for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Key Terms for UPSC
- DAY-NRLM: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
- SHGs: Self-Help Groups.
- Gender Equality: Equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all genders.
- Violence-Free Village Initiative: Aims to create model villages ensuring safety and rights for women.