Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has released the party’s manifesto for women ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2022. 

In its manifesto, the Congress party has made women voters a bounty of promises if it comes into power. If that happens,  women will get 40 per cent tickets, smartphones for girl students, three free cylinders, free menstruation related products and 40 per cent reservation in two million new government vacancies, organising ‘mahila (women) chaupal‘ in each gram panchayat, and an additional assurance that  50 per cent of the ration shops will be run by them.

“We want to empower women of UP with this manifesto. We gave 40 per cent representation to women (for UP Assembly polls) so that their empowerment doesn’t remain confined to paper. When women will truly be a part of politics then it will be translated not on paper but on ground,” Congress General Secretary, said while presenting the manifesto today, December 8, in the state capital Lucknow.

“Congress has always promoted women in politics. Congress gave the first woman PM to the country. Congress’ Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman CM. Our country had the first woman PM when other countries had very low women representation at that level,” said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Apart from free scooty, smartphones, and government jobs, the Congress has also promised Rs 10,000 honorarium to each anganwadi worker in the state.

There are more than 373,000 anganwadi workers and helpers across the 75 districts of the state, who have been protesting against the meager monthly honorarium they receive. Recently on December 2, about 2,000 women workers took to the streets in Jaunpur district. The anganwadi workers in the state earn upto Rs 5,500 each while the helpers earn Rs 2,750 each a month.

“Before elections, everyone makes such promises,” Jaunpur-based Sarita Singh, member of the Anganwadi Karamchari Va Sahayika Association in Uttar Pradesh, dismissed the news as she spoke to Gaon Connection.

Also Read: UP govt hikes honorarium for anganwadi workers, but they call it an eyewash

Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, hopes that the women of the poll bound state will help the Congress come to power in 2022. While releasing the Congress’ women manifesto in Uttar Pradesh, she said that this move will inspire other political parties to take similar steps.