Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the Mahila Sashaktikaran Maha Sammelan (Women Empowerment Mega Conference) in Bhopal on Saturday, May 31, commemorating the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. The event, organized by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government, will be held at Jamboree Maidan, with PM Modi attending as the Chief Guest.
During his visit, PM Modi will address over 2 lakh women and virtually inaugurate several key infrastructure projects, including the Super Priority Corridor of the Indore Metro and newly developed airports in Datia and Satna. The Datia Airport, constructed at a cost of ₹60 crore, and Satna Airport, at ₹37 crore, aim to enhance regional connectivity.
The conference is themed around "Operation Sindoor" and celebrates Devi Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy. Over 1,000 cutouts featuring PM Modi and CM Mohan Yadav have been placed from the BJP party office to the venue, along with themed selfie points bearing slogans like “Vow of Revenge for Sindoor” and “True Devotee Who Upholds Rajdharma.”
A special ₹300 denomination commemorative coin, weighing 35 grams and containing 50% silver, will be released, marking the first of its kind in India. Additionally, a special postal stamp dedicated to Devi Ahilyabai will be unveiled.
The National Devi Ahilyabai Award will be presented to tribal and folk artists who have made significant contributions to traditional art. PM Modi will also visit an exhibition showcasing Devi Ahilyabai’s governance model, cultural contributions, and work in women empowerment.
In support of rural development, the first installment for constructing 1,271 new Atal Gram Seva Sadan (village panchayat buildings) worth ₹483 crore will be released. Water infrastructure projects totaling over ₹80 crore, including barrage and stop dam constructions in Ujjain, Indore, Dewas, and Dhar districts, will also be launched.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will present various women-centric initiatives by the Madhya Pradesh government to PM Modi, such as 35% reservation for women in government jobs, special grant support for female entrepreneurs under the Industrial Promotion Policy, and financial support for women workers in garment factories. The expansion of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for women, currently involving 5 lakh SHGs with 62 lakh women, and low-interest loans to women for economic activities, have led to over 4 lakh women becoming "Lakhpati Didis." Additionally, over 1 crore women receive monthly financial support of ₹1,250.
The event will see participation from over 2 lakh women, who will follow a dress code of Sindoori Saree (vermillion-colored saree). A team of 200 women leaders has been assigned 14 types of logistical and organizational responsibilities. All five women ministers in the MP cabinet—Sampatiya Uikey, Krishna Baghri, Pratima Baghri, Radha Singh, and Nirmala Bhuria—will share the stage with PM Modi. Security arrangements include 1,500 women security personnel organized into 31 teams, along with the presence of women MPs, MLAs, and mayors. During the virtual inauguration of the airports, the first flights will be operated by women pilots.
To manage transportation and crowd control, over 5,000 buses have been deployed to bring participants, with Bhopal district alone tasked with mobilizing 40,000 women. Security arrangements encompass the deployment of 3 Inspectors General (IGs), 5 Deputy IGs (DIGs), 20 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 40 Assistant SPs, 90 Deputy SPs (DSPs), and 150 Inspectors.
