“Women Are Agents of Change”: CM Rekha Gupta

• Delhi CM Rekha Gupta inaugurates two-day national conference “Bharati – Nari se Narayani”
• Says women are carriers of both tradition and transformation
• Calls for greater opportunities, health awareness and leadership for women
• President Droupadi Murmu to deliver closing address on March 8

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th March: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said women are not only carriers of tradition but also powerful agents of transformation, as she inaugurated the two-day national conference of women thinkers titled “Bharati – Nari se Narayani” at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.

The conference, organised by Bharatiya Vidwat Parishad, Rashtra Sevika Samiti and the voluntary organisation Sharanya, will continue until March 8 and will conclude with an address by President Droupadi Murmu.

Addressing the gathering, Gupta said qualities such as decision-making ability, courage and hard work have no gender.

“Women are not just carriers of tradition but also carriers of change. Today, Indian women are excelling in every field and often performing better than men,” she said.

The Chief Minister said women have begun setting their own goals and shaping their futures. She encouraged women to balance family responsibilities with personal well-being and emphasised the importance of health and self-care.

Gupta also urged mothers to provide their daughters with opportunities and an environment that allows them to pursue their aspirations freely.

“If women set their own goals and work towards them, they can transform from ‘Nari’ to ‘Narayani’,” she said.

Highlighting policy initiatives, Gupta said the Delhi government has launched the Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana to empower girls. Under the scheme, financial support for girls has been extended beyond secondary education, with assistance of around ₹1.25 lakh for girls completing graduation.

She also noted that the government has allowed women to work in night shifts, removing earlier restrictions and expanding employment opportunities.

Rashtra Sevika Samiti’s Chief Guide V. Shanta Kumari, who presided over the event, said Indian culture has always accorded great importance to women.

She noted that women have demonstrated courage and excellence in diverse fields, from religious traditions to national missions such as Operation Sindoor.

“The purpose of this conference is to take the ideas and insights generated here across the country and establish meaningful discourse on women’s empowerment from an Indian perspective,” she said.

Shivani V., Secretary of the Bharatiya Vidwat Parishad, described the journey from ‘Nari to Narayani’ as a sacred path of self-realisation and empowerment.

She said women are not merely seeking empowerment but are themselves a source of strength and solutions.

“Women are not a problem to be solved; they are ultimate problem-solvers,” she said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiatives aimed at enhancing the status of women.

The two-day conference features discussions on eight major themes related to women’s empowerment, with participation from women MPs, vice-chancellors, spiritual leaders and scholars.

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony also included Sharanya president Anju Ahuja, Admaya Chetna Managing Trustee Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, and Rashtra Sevika Samiti members Vijaya Sharma and Charu Kalra.