Lucknow: The Congress general secretary and party’s UP incharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Wednesday promised to grant 40 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, while setting aside 25 per cent of jobs in the police for them, if her party is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.
The promises are part of a special manifesto, the ‘Shakti Vidhan Mahila Ghoshna Patra’, which Priyanka released in Lucknow. In it, the Congress has also assured that it will hand more than the previously stated 40 per cent tickets to women candidates for the 2022 assembly elections.
The manifesto also promises that 50 per cent of PDS (public distribution system) shops will be allocated to women. Free mobile phones will be given to girls who pass class 12 examination, and electric scooters will be given to those women who complete graduation.
“I met several girls who are unable to do their online studies because they don’t have smartphones, and so we are planning to give them free smartphones,” Priyanka told the media in Lucknow.
She added that the party prepared a ‘women manifesto’ to empower them.
“We actually want to empower them. We’ll have to create an environment where shackles can be broken with their opinion, where they get full participation in politics and in society as well that ends their exploitation,” Priyanka said.
The women’s manifesto states that the Congress aims to gradually increase female participation in politics to 50 per cent. Under the provision of the reservation, 40 per cent of tickets will be given to women.
Free LPG cylinder & Wi-fi
The Congress’ women manifesto also promises that they will be given free travel in the state’s transport buses and would receive three LPG cylinders a year.
Female students would also receive free Wi-Fi at home, especially those from poor families.
Women will also be entitled to subsidised loans, empowered by the party to increase their participation in the rural workforce, and will get preference under MGNREGA.
While talking about the highlights of the manifesto, Priyanka also said, ”Congress gave the first woman PM to the country. Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman CM. Our country had the first woman PM when other countries had very low women representation at that level.”
Apart from this Priyanka also added that the Congress has shortlisted the first list of 100 candidates, of whom 60 are women.
Also read: Rebel UP Congress MLA ‘seen as sister by Priyanka Gandhi’ joins BJP in Rae Bareli