Maharashtra Minister for Women and Child Development, Aditi Tatkare, declared in the state Assembly plans to strengthen actions against online abuse and digital harassment. She highlighted that such behaviors undermine women’s confidence in entering public or professional domains. Cybercrime was identified as a significant obstacle to women’s advancement, according to the minister during a special debate commemorating International Women’s Day.
Tatkare stressed the importance of moving beyond symbolic gestures and focusing on concrete empowerment strategies, particularly in the digital realm. She proposed grassroots training initiatives to assist rural women in navigating digital finance and social media securely, aiming to ensure that technology serves as a tool for progress rather than instilling fear.
The minister lauded the Ladki Bahin Yojana as more than just a welfare program, viewing it as a blueprint for fostering financial independence. She highlighted the requirement for Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to empower women in managing their finances independently, preventing male family members from controlling the funds.
Additionally, Tatkare recommended extending the model of direct control to other sectors like sugarcane labor wages and dairy cooperatives, where women often perform the work but do not directly receive payments. She also outlined plans to expand successful initiatives statewide, such as the Single Women Empowerment program, which provides healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and social security to widows and abandoned women.
The minister underscored the necessity for increased women-led cooperative societies and hinted at exploring additional incentives for women to secure property titles. Tatkare further disclosed the organization of special gram sabhas throughout Maharashtra to empower women at the village level, combat social issues like child marriage, and encourage local female leaders to assume governance roles actively.
