Shillong, Feb 16: A total of 10 women candidates have been fielded by the Congress party for the Meghalaya Assembly elections, to be held on February 27. Since the female voters are slightly higher at 10,53,173, the Congress is trying their luck to strike the right cord with this section.
With a theme ‘Congress: With Women For Women’ the party on Thursday held a press conference in Shillong to highlight the opportunities they have for women in the state. All India Congress Committee (AICC) media coordinator Bobbeeta Sharma and president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress Joplin Scott Shylla briefed the media and were also accompanied by some of the female candidates like Jhanika Siangshai from Khliehriat, Bethleen Dkhar from West Shillong and Dr Banidashisha Kharkongor.
The Congress leaders are aiming to create opportunities to make women more self-reliant, confident and financially empowered.
“We as women are proud that Meghalaya is a matrilineal society where women have a strong role and position. Women in Meghalaya are known to be hardworking and efficient. Yet it is observed that many women still have a long way to go to become totally self-reliant and financially empowered,” stated Sharma.
The Congress mentioned that it is sensitive to the need of women of Meghalaya to have a meaningful source of income with which they will be able to sustain themselves and their family.
The Party has proposed numerous initiatives to improve women’s lives – providing free health care for all citizens under their soon to be unveiled Free Health Care Scheme; to undertake special entrepreneurship training programmes for women to make them self- sufficient and financially independent; a monthly income of Rs. 3000 to all single mothers below the poverty line; provide free education to every girl child in Meghalaya from Kindergarten to XII standard; provide every BPL household with quality roofing materials in a phased implementation; to provide 200 units of free power to each household with consumption expenditure below the poverty line (BPL).
They also promised to provide free LPG cylinder quarterly to each household with consumption expenditure below the poverty line (BPL). To establish an exclusive market for women where products with “Proudly Made in Meghalaya” tag will be marketed and sold. To establish a Special Urban Police Force which will be modern, people-friendly and equipped to handle city-based crime scenarios using the latest technology and equipment, and increased reservation for women in the Police Force.
