Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday promised to grant a 40 percent quota in government jobs to women if the grand old party wins in the upcoming Assembly elections In Uttar Pradesh.
Releasing a special manifesto for women at the party office in Lucknow, Priyanka, in charge of her party’s UP affairs, said that the manifesto is a roadmap for inclusive and all-around growth of the state.
She said that the election document pays special attention to women and seeks to empower them. She reiterated that the grand old party will give 40 percent tickets to women.
The Congress leader said that the grand old party had always been a champion of women’s causes as she said that it was the Congress party that gave India its first female Prime Minister while America has only recently elected a female Vice President. Priyanka’s grandmother Indira Gandhi served as the third Prime Minister of India for more than a decade.
She said that the manifesto is divided into six parts. It focuses on increasing women’s self-esteem by giving them an equal footing in politics as men.
“We prepared ‘women manifesto’ where we want to say we actually want to empower them. We will have to create an environment where shackles can be broken with their opinion, where they get full participation in politics and participation in society that ends their exploitation,” she said.
Priyanka said that the Congress party’s government will construct hostels in 25 cities and open evening schools for girls. She added that smartphones will be given to girls who pass the class 12 examination and electric scooters will be given to girls who complete graduation. Besides, if a girl will be born into a poor family, the government will open an FD account.
Also, the Congress government will give preference to women in MNERGA, Priyanka told reporters, adding that women will be entitled to subsidised loans and 50 percent of PDS shops will be allocated to women.
