Women workforce triplesin UP in past nine years: CM

Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a threefold rise in women's participation in the workforce over the past nine years, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday, attributing the surge to improved safety, dignity and self-reliance initiatives for women since 2017.During his address at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT), the CM said the proportion of working women has increased from around 12% to over 36%. "A society where women step out fearlessly for work is a true indicator of security," he remarked, adding that earlier concerns over safety had forced families to send daughters outside the state for education.During the event, the CM laid the foundation stone for a 144-bed girls' hostel to be constructed under CSR funding by Power Grid Corporation of India at a cost of Rs 13.67 crore. He also inaugurated a cyber forensic research lab built at an estimated cost of Rs 4.67 crore and distributed research excellence awards.Highlighting the importance of infrastructure and institutional support, Adityanath said the state govt is working to establish working women's hostels in major cities to encourage female participation in education and employment. He also stressed that eliminating gender bias at the family level would significantly accelerate development.The CM underlined the growing role of forensic science in the criminal justice system, noting that Uttar Pradesh now has 12 high-grade forensic labs, compared to just two before 2017, with six more under construction. He added that under new criminal laws, forensic evidence has been made mandatory in cases involving punishment of more than seven years, strengthening conviction rates.Touching upon cyber security, he said the state has expanded from just two cyber police stations in 2017 to one in each of the 75 districts, supported by cyber help desks across 1,600+ police stations.The CM also highlighted Uttar Pradesh's transformation into a hub of manufacturing and innovation, claiming the state contributes 55% of India's mobile phone manufacturing. He emphasized efforts to align youth with technology, innovation and industry demands, turning them into "market-ready" and "industry-ready" professionals.He further announced upcoming collaborations in green hydrogen, med-tech and agri-tech sectors, positioning the state as a future-ready economic powerhouse.