LS Polls: Rahul Gandhi promises “Five Guarantees for Women” if elected to power

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has recently said that if Congress comes to power in center, it would give financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to each woman in a poor family, and implement reservations in Union government jobs for them. 

Speaking at a Women's Rights and Justice Meeting in Maharashtra's Dhule on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said that the party's 'Five Guarantees for Women' will bring prosperity to half of the country's population while assuring that his party will immediately implement women's reservation if voted to power.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge unveiled the party's proposals online during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which included “The 'Five Guarantees' for ensuring justice to women--Mahalaxmi, Aadhi Abadi-Pura Haq, Shakti Sanman, Adhikar Maitri and Savitribai Phule Hostels.

According to the proposal, one woman member of a poor household will be given Rs 1 lakh per year under the Mahalaxmi scheme, under Aadhi Abadi-Pura Haq, women will be entitled to 50 per cent jobs in the Union government.

Under Shakti Sanman the Union’s contribution in the monthly salaries of Anganwadi, Asha and Midday Meal workers in the country will be doubled while Adhikar Maitri envisages a para-legal/ legal assistant appointed in every village panchayat as women's friend to make them aware of their rights and provide necessary help on various issues.

Under the Savitribai Phule Hostels initiative, at least one working women's hostel would be set up in all the district headquarters around the country, and the number would be doubled subsequently, it said.
The Congress had also announced other major initiatives to ensure participatory justice for farmers and youth, Kharge said.

Attacking the Centre on Women's Reservation Bill, Rahul said the announcement was made in a haste. He further criticized Modi government saying, in the last 10 years, the women of the country have got nothing and their burdens have increased owing to inflation, unemployment, and safety and security-related issues.

"Our stand is that the representation of women should be increased in all places including the legislatures and the Parliament. We shall also conduct a caste census and an economic survey to ascertain the participation of women, Dalits, minorities, and Backward Communities in the national mainstream," Rahul said.

Senior party leaders like AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala, AICC Secretary Sonal Patel, state President Nana Patole, Congress Legislature Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat, state Mahila Congress chief Sandhya Savvalakhe, and others were present.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has entered Maharashtra on Tuesday in Nandurbar and will proceed to Nashik on Thursday and finally reach Mumbai by the weekend at the historic Chaityabhoomi in Dadar.

The Congress-INDIA bloc leaders will formally launch their Lok Sabha campaign on Sunday with a mega-rally at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.