Groups demand inclusion of women issues in poll manifesto
Pulkit Vasudha
Ahmedabad, October 17 Several women organisations from across Gujarat joined hands and appealed to political parties to increase the candidature of women in the coming Assembly elections. They also requested that they promise to address issues concerning women in their manifestos. Over 150 NGOs working for women, represented by Ahmedabad Women Action Group (AWAG), Alliance of All Gujarat (AAG) and Gujarat Mahila Federation, presented a charter of demands to all political parties in a meeting held on Wednesday.
“For the first time, women organisations in in the State are urging political parties to include women’s problems in their election manifestos to make them accountable to the public if they are voted to power,” said Ila Pathak, president of AWAG.
The organisations want the future government to resolve to implement these demands under the State’s Gender Policy and Nari Gaurav Neeti. They also want it to rethink over legislative actions, taken during Modi’s rule, which are against the well-being and security of women. This includes Marriage Registration law 2006, relaxation of prohibition law and the two-child norm essential for candidates contesting local body elections.
They demanded strict imposition of prohibition policy, relaxed for the last five years, which can be instrumental in reducing violence against women. The charter of demands has been prepared in consultation with women’s organisations, research institutes and women activists.
Arvind Patel, president of Congress manifesto committee, who was present at the meeting said, “We do not need women’s organisations to tell us what the societal process and political system should be like. All we want to do is promote people’s participation in the socio-political processes of the State.”
THE DEMANDS
* Rethinking over the Marriage Registration Law 2006, relaxation of liquor prohibition law, two-child norm imposed on candidates contesting panchayat and local body elections.
* The future government should conscientiously strive to decrease infant and maternal mortality rates.
* Community health centres should have gynaecologists.
* Guidelines against sexual harassment should be implemented strictly to prevent dropout of school girls.
* Basic facilities such as latrines and clean drinking water should be made available at all public places .
* The Domestic Violence Act should be implemented throughout the State by appointment and training of counsellors, volunteers and security officers.
* As directed by the Supreme Court, a State committee should be appointed to look into matters of sexual harassment of women at work place.
* Riot-affected women should be guaranteed employment, rehabilitation.
* Mental health policies should be implemented to help riot victims. According to a survey by AWAG, at least 56 per cent riot-affected women suffer from mental illnesses.
* Action needs to be taken to stop practice of manual scavenging by women still prevalent in certain rural areas. * Political parties should increase reservation for women candidates contesting in these elections.
Source: Indian Express