New Delhi, March 23 (UNI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday reiterated his party’s commitment to women’s empowerment, outlining a set of proposed welfare measures aimed at strengthening their social and economic position in Uttar Pradesh.
In a message shared on his WhatsApp channel, Yadav emphasised what he described as a long-standing commitment to “full freedom, safety, rights, empowerment, and upliftment” of women.
“We have always been, and will continue to be, firmly committed to ensuring full freedom, safety, rights, empowerment, and upliftment for half the population,” Yadav said, adding that recognising the contributions of women strengthens both “their dignity and morale” as well as the broader social fabric.
Highlighting his party’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank, Yadav underlined that the ‘A’ in PDA also signifies “aadhi abaadi” or half the population—referring to women across age groups. “Every girl child, young woman, and woman deserves equal social and economic respect and the opportunity to stand on her own feet,” he said.
As part of this vision, Yadav announced that his party would introduce a proposed “Women’s Respect and Prosperity Scheme,” aimed at enhancing financial independence and overall well-being among women. He also promised the revival of the “Samajwadi Pension,” a welfare initiative implemented during previous Samajwadi Party governments, which provided financial assistance to economically weaker sections, including women.
“We will bring the ‘Women’s Respect and Prosperity Scheme’ to ensure equal social and economic respect and promote prosperity. We will also reinstate the ‘Samajwadi Pension’ to further strengthen women,” he said, linking these initiatives to his broader pledge of ensuring “complete development of Uttar Pradesh.”
The Samajwadi Party has previously positioned welfare schemes and social justice policies at the center of its political agenda, particularly targeting marginalised communities. The renewed focus on women comes amid increasing political competition in the state, where major parties have been announcing targeted benefits for female voters, including cash assistance, subsidies, and safety measures.
Yadav’s latest remarks signal an attempt to consolidate support among women voters by combining economic assistance with a broader narrative of dignity and empowerment, themes that are expected to feature prominently in the party’s outreach in the run-up to future elections in Uttar Pradesh.
