Assembly adopts resolution on 33% quota for women

• State to introduce master health cards for women
• Plans to award 25 prominent persons contributing to the cause of women empowerment and gender equality from next International Women’s Day

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday has adopted a unanimous resolution asking the Union government to initiate steps to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the highest legislative bodies of Assemblies and Parliament. Moving the resolution, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that providing 33 per cent reservation remained pending for so long and providing the same would immensely contribute to women’s empowerment.

Making a statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day, he said that the TDP has been taking series of measures for women empowerment. For this, the first step had been taken by former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, by providing equal property rights for women.

Similarly, opening doors for setting up 300 engineering institutes has resulted in more number of girls taking up engineering studies and becoming part of scripting the success story of information technology. “Now, there are more number of girls than boys who have been increasingly showcasing their expertise in the IT sector. And, it was a sign of empowerment,” the Chief Minister pointed out.

In the same way, starting DWCRA by forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) was a unique experiment in the empowerment of women started in the TDP tenure. Now, of the total SHGs bank credit linkage in the country, Andhra Pradesh accounts for 37 per cent, which is highest in the country, he added.

Even in case of microfinance sector, AP is on par with Bangladesh which has the unique distinction of empowering women in microfinance, Naidu claimed. Notwithstanding the proven progress of women on several counts, there are instances of discrimination towards women. And, to bring down this disparity, it is necessary to make them part of development in all sectors, he stressed.

Noting that the United Nations set a goal to achieve a non-discriminatory environment for women by 2030, he said that a meaningful social change could be achieved only when a girl child is seen as part of the life and not a burden. And, the dwindling number of females to that of every 1,000 males in the State is a cause of concern that the State government wanted to address in right earnest.

To achieve this, government would provide all diagnostic tests free of cost to women who are over 35 years of age. Also, orders would be given for immediate appointment of 223 gynecologists and supporting staff at all maternity health centres in the State, he added. He also explained about the several schemes launched by the government for the welfare of women and child health and economic empowerment of women.

Other initiatives announced by the Chief Minister were: Awards for 25 prominent persons contributing to the cause of women empowerment and gender equality from International Women’s Day from next year, Mahila Shakti to provide training on self-defence and other skill development programmes, constructing Mahila Bhavans, establishing fast track courts for speedy disposal of cases related to atrocities against women, separate partition for women in RTC buses, Abhaya application to quickly address the call of women in distress, ‘On Call Taxi’ services for women at bus and railway stations.

Establishing police control rooms to track cabs in which women are travelling from their alighting to destination points.