Putting women issues to the forefront, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday while celebrating their second foundation day put forward a ten-point blueprint for tackling problems that women face in the national Capital in terms of safety, education, independence and sanitation. From using technology to provide women with immediate back-up to regulating the construction of alcohol vendors in the neighbourhood, the party came up with workable ideas which would be put in place by the party once they come to power.
Party convener Arvind Kejriwal informed that swift and effective justice would be ensured for women by making more fast track courts. “There will be definite justice in cases of crime against women. We will set up 47 fast track courts in Delhi within six months of time. We will build the courts and they will be made functional,” he said.
Kejriwal added that the party will conduct special training drives for home guards and civil defence personnel if voted into power so that they can become part of the Mahila Suraksha Dal for the protection of women. He explained, “There are 55,000 civil defence personnel and around 6,000 home guards in Delhi at the moment. There will be 6,000 more home guards hired and it will be ensured that 50 per cent of the home guards are women. They will become a part of the Mahila Suraksha Dal since we don’t have the police under our control.”
The issue of home guards was raised by the frontal organisation of the party called AAP KI Mahila Shakti. One of the district leaders of this organisation said that most of the Delhi Home Guards are not utilised and also not paid. The organisation also said that another immediate step that needs to be taken is sensitising the police.
However, one interesting point that was brought out by the Delhi Dialogue team was that of having crèches made by the Government so that women who are new mothers can go back to their work without worrying about their child.
In sync with that, Kejriwal said that there was focus on ensuring and encouraging the social security of women in the unorganised sector, domestic help and daily wage labourers. "Increased penetration of healthcare and education facilities in every Delhi assembly constituency is a must," he said.
Issues regarding women safety have been spoken about by the party leaders even before but on Wednesday solutions to the issues were discussed. Kejriwal elaborated, "Delhi will be free of dark spots, which means that every corner of the Capital will be lit up. There will be street lights installed and made functional in all streets of the capital and on all pavements as well. CCTVs in buses and bus Shelters will also be installed to deter and stop crime in every form of public transport. Bus marshals on every bus will be assigned and there will be zero tolerance against molestation, eve teasing and violence against women. last mile connectivity will also be insured by expanding grameen sewa services, shared auto rickshaw services and e-rickshaw services through delimitation and fixed routes."
In terms of sanitation two lakh toilets for women with 50,000 toilets in public spaces and 1.5 lakh toilets in slums will also be set up, said the party.