OD-CAMPAIGN-WOMEN

The opposition Congress in

Odisha on Friday said it will launch women-centric campaigns

during the upcoming elections for Lok Sabha and the state

assembly.

"We will start women-centric campaigns in the upcoming

elections," All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) president

Sushmita Dev said here.

Dev made the announcement after presiding over the

executive meeting of the Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress at the

Congress Bhawan here.

Stating that women constitute 49 per cent of Odisha's

population, Dev said the campaigns would highlight the plight

of women in the state and in the country.

"Government data shows that not more than 13 per cent

of the girls go for higher education, and there has been a

steady rise in the number of crimes against women,

particularly rape, in Odisha," she said.

Dev said that there has also been many incidents of

women trafficking in the tribal-dominated areas of the state,

and livelihood programmes for women have not given the desired

results.

"Our agenda will be women safety. I have been to the

house of the Pipili rape and murder victim. The government has

not been able to give justice to her family," she said,

adding, the Congress will also give stress to the positive

aspects of women welfare.

"We will spell out what the Congress government will

do for women if it comes to power," Dev said.

Apart from digital election campaigns, the Congress

will launch door-to-door programmes, too, she said.

She also pointed out that public meetings are mostly

bereft of women participation. "About 85 per cent of women

voters do not attend public meetings."

On Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's campaign for 33 per

cent seat reservation for women in Parliament and state

assemblies, she said, "Before seeking support from political

parties, let the CM have a look at his ministry, the number of

women he has inducted and the number of women representing the

state assembly."

Meanwhile, the Pradesh Mahila Congress will gherao the

state assembly during the Budget Session, the AIMC chief said.

PTI AAM

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