”Womanifesto” Released Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE:    Ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, the National Alliance of Women’s Organizations released the ”Womanifesto” for consideration of all political parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“Womanifesto” raised an important point of creating one crore jobs for women in the next five years, ensuring their participation in the peace-making process and in decision-making bodies dealing with the environment, providing 33 per cent tickets to women candidates

Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research explained that National and regional parties need to give more tickets to women candidates in order to increase their number, and thereby influence policies that reflect women’s holistic development.

The manifesto also laid down demand for providing free sanitary napkins to girls in schools and free treatment of rape and acid attack victims in all hospitals.

The manifesto quotes that “All houses should be registered in the name of husband and wife and marital rape should be criminalized. At least, one-third seats in all internal committees of political parties should be reserved for women.”

“The Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and home departments of all state governments should constitute peace committees and ensure that at least 50 per cent of the members are women.”

The manifesto also points out the allocation of 30 per cent of the annual budget for growth and development of women under gender budgeting provisions and waiver of loans of women farmers if they are unable to pay them due to unavoidable circumstances.

Along with demanding the creation of one crore jobs for women in the next five years, especially in Information and Technology, health, education and consultancy sectors.

The manifesto also called for the inclusion of women in all decision-making bodies dealing with climate change and the environment, and 50 percent participation in all peace committees for resolution of internal and external conflicts since they are the biggest sufferers of conflicts.