“I hope that this is often not the last manifesto for women within the country. I hope that other political parties take a leaf out of this, and release manifestos for women,” Priyanka Gandhi said at a function held in Lucknow on December 8.
A manifesto for women was launched by the Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the upcoming UP Assembly polls on December 8, where a slew of promises was made including 40 per cent reservation for women in government jobs if her party is voted to power.
She said that they need to give 40 per cent reservation to women in tickets within the upcoming polls in order that women empowerment doesn’t just get restricted to papers, but actually happens.
She further said that even before this, Congress gave 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj. That is where this began. The Congress gave the country the primary female Prime Minister and therefore the first female Uttar Pradesh CM Sucheta Kripalani.
Priyanka also said that the establishments will also provide women with special waiver on taxes and benefits. Moreover, special hostels with modern facilities will be established in 25 cities for working women.
Here are some of the key manifesto provisions:
- 40 per cent tickets for women in upcoming polls in UP
- Swawlamban (Indepedence)
- 40 per cent of 20 lakh jobs the party promises to create if voted to power to be given to women
- Businesses with more than 50 per cent female workforce to get special incentives, including tax exemptions
- Special quota for women in male-centric professions
- Mandatory creche facility at all government offices, while private offices will be encouraged to open up creches
- Asha and Anganwadi workers to get a honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month 40 percent reservation for women in MNREGA work 50 per cent ration shops in state to be run and managed by women
- Shiksha (Education)
- Self respect
- Students of class 12 to be given smartphone, while those pursuing graduation will be given a scooty
- Scholarships for girls in secondary schools
- Residential schools for girls to be set up in all 75 districts of the state
- Funded programmes for single mothers in vocational training
- Samman (Respect)
- Free public transport for women
- Monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for elderly women
- Special training programmes for widowed women
- Three free gas cylinders in a year to every woman in the state
- Suraksha (Security)
- 25 per cent jobs to women in police force. Female constables to be posted in all police stations
- Special Commission comprising six women (two judges, two activists, two government officials) to be formed at the state level to look into the cases of harassment of women and other anti-women crimes
- A special legal cell in all districts to look into crimes against women
- Sehat (Health)
- Free medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family to be given for all diseases
