SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Rural Development | Ministry of Women and Child Development
The fourth edition of the national campaign ‘Nayi Chetna – Initiative for Change’ (Nayi Chetna 4.0) was inaugurated today. Organized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), the campaign runs until December 23, 2025, across all states and Union Territories. The core objective is to foster gender equality, promote women’s economic empowerment through the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative—which has already reached over 20 million women—and launch a broad-based public movement to establish “violence-free villages”.
‘Nayi Chetna’ is a nationwide campaign led by the Ministry of Rural Development to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and empower women to recognize and challenge violence in their communities. It leverages India’s vast network of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to drive community-led action, encouraging safe mobility, recognizing women’s economic contributions, and promoting shared domestic responsibility.
The launch highlighted the critical need to change societal mindsets regarding daughters and addiction, identifying the latter as a root cause of violence. A joint advisory from 11 ministries was also issued to promote inter-ministerial cooperation, underscoring a “whole-of-government” approach to ensuring women’s safety, dignity, and economic participation in rural India.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the defined metrics for a “violence-free village” be integrated into the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) to ensure statutory backing and funding for these social safety initiatives?
Follow the full news here: Nayi Chetna 4.0 national campaign