Election Promises

Votes are pouring in. Everybody has an Opinion and know what they are voting for! We, Women, are in an empowered state! The data of Election Commission 2014 has revealed that women voters outnumbered men in Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Lakshadweep. Enthusiasm for Change is clearly evident. Of course we are demanding Change. Women related Issues are being brought in the forefront and obviously they have to be considering Women make up 49% of Electorate. Appalling Rape Incidents, Sexual Violence have been in the media and general scenario creating both anger and fear in the minds of people. According to a joint survey by Marketing and Development Research Associates and online campaign forum Avaaz, over 90% of Indians want tackling sexual violence treated as a priority, and 75% are not satisfied with the promises made by politicians on the issue so far.

Women voters have come a long way from 1950’s .According to the parliament of India female voter turnout increased from 38.8% in the 1950s to almost 60% in the 1990s.Infact Researchers Mudit Kapoor and Shamika Ravi point to “a steady and sharp decline in the gender bias in voting over time”. The gender ratio of voters – the number of female voters to every 1,000 male voters – “increased very impressively from 715 in the 1960s to 883 in the 2000s”. Despite Being Such an Overwhelming part of Society, Women constitute only 11%(58 out of 543 seats) of Lok Sabha in the year 2009, which is the first time in the history of Indian Politics because the ratio tended to be less than 10%. Women’s Reservation Bill, which is currently pending in Rajya Sabha, proposes to reserve 33% in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly for Women(which is Included in BJP’s Manifesto). Analysis from PRS legislative suggests that an Average Women MP tends to be Younger and equal in Education profile when compared to their Male Counterparts. A Study by Poverty Action Lab concluded that even the Presence and Visibility of female leaders had a significant impact on villages across many regions of India. Women invested more in infrastructure that had a direct impact on improving the circumstances of the average woman. The visibility of women in leadership roles also appears to have an impact in encouraging girls and women to continue with their education and to consider future career options differently. BJP’S Manifesto:

33% reservations in Parliamentary and State Assemblies.
National Campaign of Beti Padhao-Beti Bachchao
Comprehensive Schemes incorporating best of Balika Samruddhi, Ladli Laxmi and Chiranjeevi Yojana.
Dedicated Women ITI’s.
All Women Mobile Banks.
Dedicated W- SME CLUSTERS in Every District.
Courses of Self-Employment, Entrepreneurship, Family Run business Free to women.
Enhance Number of Women in Judiciary Bar and Bench

Congress Manifesto:

Women’s Reservation Bill and strict implementation of the Child Labour and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act’s.
Setting up of Poorn Shakti Kendras at block level to provide a single window mechanism for awareness, information, access and utilisation of government schemes.
Work with women’s Self-Help-Groups for distribution of free sanitary napkins for adolescents.
Through NRLM, low interest loans of up to Rs. 1 lakh for livelihood activities.
Strengthening the scope of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, set up in 2007.

· “One Stop Crisis Centres” for women will be set up in all hospitals.

· Ensure all police stations have at least 25% women staffers.

· Pass a Citizens’ Charter for Women’s Safety.

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About the Author: This article has been contributed by Rashmi Singh, our intern. Rashmi is a student of Bachelors of Mass Media who supports Life, Liberty and equality; She even believes in democracy.

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