Governor Anandiben Patel Inaugurates ‘Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship’ Conference
Lucknow– Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel today inaugurated the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce’s conference titled “Breaking Barriers – Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship” at Hotel Taj, Lucknow. The event celebrated and honored 14 women entrepreneurs for their exceptional work across various sectors.
In her address, Governor Patel praised the awardees and emphasized that their achievements serve as a beacon of inspiration for countless other women. She also urged organizers to ensure future recognitions include women from rural backgrounds, who, despite limited resources, are driving change with innovation, resilience, and hard work.
Highlighting the strides made by women across sectors, the Governor remarked, “Today, women are not only leading in multiple domains but are also generating employment opportunities for others.” She called upon the gathering to pledge support for women’s training, safety, employment, and quality education for their children.
Drawing examples from her tenure in Gujarat, Governor Patel spoke about allocating land plots in women’s names to empower them economically. These spaces, now innovation hubs for students and youth in the IT sector, have become centers for training and employment.
She stressed that everyone must be included in the journey toward progress and urged women to remain vigilant about their own safety. “Awareness and access to government welfare schemes can help women overcome barriers,” she added.
The Governor shared her ‘KG to PG’ (Kindergarten to Postgraduate) vision, under which she has linked anganwadis with universities, providing them with development kits. Over 35,000 anganwadis have benefited through university and community support.
Focusing on healthcare, she emphasized the need for HPV vaccinations for girls through a community-supported initiative. “Every person should take a pledge today to adopt at least one girl child and ensure her vaccination,” she said, citing the devastating effect of preventable diseases like cancer on families.
Governor Patel also encouraged efforts against substance abuse, supporting the Prime Minister’s vision of nasha-mukt Bharat (drug-free India). She underlined that while the government initiates schemes and allocates budgets, real impact depends on the last-mile delivery to the marginalized.
A strong advocate for inclusion, she highlighted transgender empowerment, calling upon businesses to offer training and jobs to members of the transgender community. Citing examples from Kashi and Basti districts, where trans persons were skill-trained and employed, she encouraged other districts to replicate the model.
Speaking on education for marginalized communities, she said Musahar children need to be brought into the mainstream through schooling. In some districts, bicycles were provided to encourage school attendance, and women were given sewing machines to foster self-employment.
Expressing her pride, she said, “At university convocations, it is heartening to see daughters excelling in every field. Soon, women will occupy the highest offices of the country.” She also pointed out that nine state universities in Uttar Pradesh are currently being led by women vice-chancellors doing commendable work.
Horticulture, Agriculture & Marketing Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, also present at the event, lauded the Governor’s leadership, saying she had overcome personal challenges to become an icon for society. “There are no more barriers for women today. The government has opened many doors for their empowerment,” he said.
Padma Shri folk artist Malini Awasthi, in her remarks, hailed Governor Patel as a trailblazer who pursued education when it was rare for girls and has since made significant contributions to politics and social reform. “She has broken societal taboos and paved the way for women’s empowerment through her life and work,” said Awasthi.
Also present were State Minister (Independent Charge) Dinesh Pratap Singh, social activist Namrata Pathak, former IACC National President Dr. Lalit Bhasin, seminar convenor Swati Singh, IACC Chairperson Reena Singh, Dr. Upasana Arora, Kashish Tyagi, several women entrepreneurs, and officials from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
The event concluded with a collective commitment to fostering inclusion, education, health, and economic empowerment for women and underrepresented communities—marking yet another step toward building a stronger, more inclusive India.
