{
  "id": 3986575,
  "title": "Raksha Bandhan Boosts Artisan Economy, Says CM Yogi Adityanath; Highlights Women Empowerment Initiatives",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/raksha-bandhan-boosts-artisan-economy-says-cm-yogi-adityanath",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T14:50:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/raksha-bandhan-boosts-artisan-economy-says-cm-yogi-adityanath-highlights-women-empowerment-initiatives"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lucknow, August 28 - Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that Raksha Bandhan is more than a festival of tying a sacred thread of protection; it symbolizes faith, trust, respect, self-respect, and self-reliance. The festival strengthens family and social bonds and contributes to the economic self-reliance of local artisans and craftsmen. Around 15 crore Rakhis are tied across the state, each representing an economic activity involving an artisan, craftsman, shopkeeper, and market. When a Rakhi is purchased, the money reaches the artisan and returns to the market, driving development. At the 'Bitiya Aur Behna-UP Ka Gahna' Snehbandhan programme, the Chief Minister highlighted that faith and respect generate trust, which strengthens self-respect and self-reliance. He also spoke about Mission Shakti, an initiative to ensure the safety, dignity, and self-reliance of daughters. The program, launched under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to empower women in various spheres of life.\n\nDuring his tenure, the Chief Minister witnessed girls from poor families going to school barefoot and without uniforms while their brothers had shoes and uniforms. This inspired him to provide girls with two sets of uniforms, bags, books, shoes, socks, and sweaters, as well as sweaters during winter. This facility was extended to all needy children, and around 1.60 crore children in the state receive these provisions every year. The government plans to extend Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas up to Class 12, and schools are being constructed in all 825 development blocks of the state. Additionally, the Chief Minister noted that the number of girls in Atal Residential Schools has increased.\n\nRaksha Bandhan has also seen a rise in women's participation in employment, with the figure increasing from around 12% to more than 36% since Independence. To support working women, free hostels are being constructed in major cities for their convenience and safety. Today, daughters confidently take up night-shift jobs. The Chief Minister also mentioned that free travel is provided on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and urban bus services for daughters, sisters, and mothers on Raksha Bandhan. This includes free travel on buses for every mother above the age of 60. The CM stressed that daughters are making progress in every sphere of life, and women are playing an important role in institutions that make laws.",
  "summary": "Lucknow, August 28: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, \"Raksha Bandhan is not merely a festival of tying a sacred thread of protection; it is also a symbol of faith, trust, respect, self-respect and self-reliance. The festival not only strengthens family and social bonds but is also linked to the economic self-reliance of local artisans and craftsmen. Many of the Rakhis that daughters tied on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}