Shivraj Chouhan Launches Nayi Chetna 3.0 Campaign to Combat Gender-Based Violence

New Delhi: Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the third edition of Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), at Rang Bhawan Auditorium yesterday. Highlighting the pervasive nature of GBV, Chouhan emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring every woman lives with dignity, respect, and self-belief, through coordinated efforts across sectors.

The launch event also saw the inauguration of 227 new Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) across 13 states. These centers provide survivors of GBV with safe spaces to access resources, report incidents, and receive legal support. “These GRCs are vital for empowering survivors, offering them validation and the courage to share their stories,” Chouhan remarked.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, unveiled the #AbKoiBahanaNahi campaign, underscoring the need for collective action to eliminate GBV. She highlighted the pivotal role of 10 crore Self-Help Group (SHG) women and 49 government-led, women-focused schemes, including 24/7 national helplines, One-Stop Centres, and fast-track judicial initiatives.

“Every woman deserves equal opportunities in economic, social, and political spheres,” Devi stated. “Together, we must ensure GBV becomes a thing of the past.”

Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of Rural Development, shared successes from the previous Nayi Chetna 2.0 campaign, which engaged over 6 crore individuals through 9 lakh community-led activities. The current edition, Nayi Chetna 3.0, with its message “Ek Saath Ek Awaaz – Hinsa Ke Khilaf”, aims to foster safe, inclusive communities by rallying collective action through the extensive SHG network of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

An inter-ministerial joint advisory was unveiled at the event, signed by eight Ministries, including the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Home Affairs, and Panchayati Raj. This collaborative approach underscores the government’s “whole-of-government” strategy to tackle GBV comprehensively.

Three gender champions from Jharkhand, Puducherry, and Madhya Pradesh shared their inspiring journeys from survivors to leaders, showcasing the transformative power of initiatives like Nayi Chetna.

The month-long campaign will run across all Indian states and union territories until December 23, 2024. Organized under the DAY-NRLM framework, Nayi Chetna 3.0 embodies the spirit of a Jan Andolan (people’s movement), empowering local institutions and communities to act decisively against GBV while raising awareness about its multifaceted impacts.

The event saw participation from SHG women, Anganwadi workers, state representatives, and civil society organizations, marking a united front against gender-based violence in India.