<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Uttar Pradesh government today announced that it will dedicate the upcoming Navratri festival to women's safety, dignity and empowerment by launching 'Mission Shakti' on October 17.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The initiative will begin in 'Shardiya Navratri' and will continue for the next six months till the 'Chaitra Navratri' in April.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“Various programmes will be organized from the Gram Panchayats to industrial units, school campuses to government offices, from the Durga Puja pandals to Ramlilas to reaffirm the faith and resolve towards the women power,” a government spokesman said in an official statement.</p>
As many as 23 departments, including basic education, secondary education, higher education, MSME, other government and non-government agencies will be participating in the programmes.

Private cab operators will also be partners in this initiative.

Short films, street plays, safety pledge, sensitization about the women's laws and a public display of inspirational stories of women will mark the events during the drive.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Mission Shakti should start with mass awareness programmes during the 'Shardiya Navratri' that begins on October 17 and celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

The Chief Minister has directed all the departments to prepare their respective action plans to execute the mission..