Congress general secretary and UP in-charge of the party, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, released her party's women's manifesto in Lucknow on Wednesday, promising 40 per cent reservation to women in state government jobs if voted to power in the 2022 assembly polls.
Earlier, she had declared to field 40 per cent women candidates in the upcoming state elections.
Priyanka said that for the first time in India’s political history, a manifesto `Shakti Vidhan' focusing on women was being released.
The Congress manifesto is divided into six parts – self-respect, self-reliance, education, respect, security and health.
Addressing media persons at the UP Congress Committee headquarters in Lucknow on Wednesday, Priyanka said, “Today's women want to fight and thus the party has prepared this manifesto keeping in mind the same spirit. If the Congress forms the next government in Uttar Pradesh, then women will get 40 per cent reservation in government jobs. Besides, 25 per cent women will be recruited in the police department.”
The Congress leader further said these steps would put pressure on other political parties to take women's participation seriously.
"Compassion, kindness and hope are the qualities of women. These qualities are also required in politics. Participation of women in politics is necessary so that women empowerment does not remain only on paper. An environment has to be given for women to have their say. Women are being exploited but they are fighting. That's why the slogan ‘Ladki Hai, Lar Sakti Hi’ was coined by us,” she added.
Priyanka further said, “The manifesto prepared for women was divided into six parts -- self-respect, self-reliance, education, respect, security and health. We have announced to give 40 per cent tickets to women earlier and now it will be hiked up to 50 per cent. Till date, 100 candidates have been finalised for the assembly polls, out of which 60 are women candidates. With this we will try to fix the inequality of women in politics. The representation of women in Parliament and assemblies is currently less than 14 per cent. This percentage will increase when women get more chances in contesting elections."
The Congress general secretary said that if the party formed the government in UP in 2022, then 40 per cent reservation would be given to women in government jobs.
“As Congress has announced earlier that it will give employment to 20 lakh people out of this, 20 lakh women will get jobs. Businesses employing up to 50 per cent women will get tax exemptions and assistance. Also business women will be provided funds for loans and tax refunds at affordable rates. For working women, hostels with safe and latest facilities will be made in 25 cities of the state,” she promised.
Priyanka said, “There should be empowerment of women in rural and cottage industries. For this Anganwadi and ASHA workers will get an honorarium of Rs 10,000. Loans to women’s self-help groups at an interest rate of four per cent will be ensured and women will be given priority in MNREGA and 40 per cent works of MNREGA will be reserved for women. Also, 50 per cent of ration shops in the state would be run by women."
“We also plan to empower women in the education sector. Intermediate pass girl students will be given smartphones and scooty will be given to the girls having passed graduation. Also 75 skill schools will be set up in the names of brave women in the state. Evening schools run by women will also be set up across the state especially in cities where women can study in the evening," she said.
Hitting out at the state government, Priyanka said that the empowerment of women was limited to advertisements only. “Mahila chaupal will be set in each gram panchayat. Free internet will be given to every poor family. Ten world-class residential sports academies will be built for women in partnership with private sector or international schools. A deposit of a fixed amount will be made for each girl child born in the family. Trained social workers will be deployed to help women who face domestic violence," she announced.
Slamming the Bharatiya Janata party government in UP, the Congress leader said that everyone knew about the condition of women's safety in the state. "Every day, women visit me and narrate their traumatic experiences. Police and administration are siding with the criminals. But women have started raising their voice and demanding their rights. There is a good response from girls on this issue.