Varanasi, Sep 9 (IANS) In a warning to 'goons' and 'mafias', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that those who become a threat to women's safety will have to choose between "jail or hell". CM Adityanath made the remark during an event to facilitate working women in Varanasi.Addressing a gathering, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing global recognition to the holy city. "Kashi is the foundation for all the developmental works carried out across the country, under PM Modi's leadership in the past 12 years," he said.The Chief Minister stated that approximately one lakh projects are either underway or have been completed in Varanasi.CM Adityanath said: "Before 2017, people were concerned about the safety of their daughters while sending them to school. Similarly, women were concerned about their safety in the absence of toilets at their homes."He added that during the regime of the previous government, people were similarly concerned about income, roads, connectivity, healthcare and job opportunities.

"Today, the double engine BJP government has created a system where the schemes will not only be made, but it will be ensured that they reach the people by removing the barriers on its way," he asserted.The CM emphasised: "We have given a strong foundation for women's safety in the state in the form of 'Mission Shakti'. Under this, women police personnel have been deployed, and an integrated women beat system has been created in the state."We have urged for 20 per cent of mandatory female admissions in the UP police force," he said while claiming that in 2017, the force consisted of only 10,000 women police personnel."Today that number has increased to 44,000 and will soon reach 50,000," he asserted.CM Adityanath mentioned that the UP government is creating three women police battalions of Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) at Badaun, Lucknow and Gorakhpur, and all three have been named after women warriors."When we had launched the 'Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana' (mass wedding), people from the Samajwadi Party (SP) laughed at us, calling it an 'insult' to the daughters. Today, more than five lakh girls have been married under the scheme," he said.

He further stated that the Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas in the state, which earlier functioned from class sixth to eighth, have now been extended from sixth to 12th standard."We have now reserved seats for girls even in Sainik schools," he added.The CM announced that girl students who emerge toppers in the Board exams will be distributed scooters under a scheme named after Queen of Jhansi, Laxmibai."At every village, a digital entrepreneur will be hired at the Panchayat level under 'Project Ganga'. The digital entrepreneur will be able to implement schemes and provide job opportunities. We are going to create 4,000 such women entrepreneurs under this scheme," he mentioned.He further emphasised that women are being provided equal opportunities across manufacturing, banking and service sectors in the state. "The women workforce has increased from 12 per cent to 36 per cent in Uttar Pradesh," the Chief Minister underlined.Invoking the Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyam (Amendment) Bill, he said: "If the Bill is passed, women will get the opportunity to comprise one third of the representatives in both the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha, by 2029."Attacking the opposition parties, he said: "Many leaders will come and attempt to divide the society, but when it comes to taking action against a 'Mafia', they would refrain from doing so.""But now 'goons' and 'mafias' have been warned that if they attempt to interfere with the safety of our daughters, they will have to choose between jail or hell," the Chief Minister remarked.

/ IANS