Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

CM neglects women, says Congress leader

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR DEC. 20. Refuting the claims of the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, that women are with the Telugu Desam Party, the All-India Mahila Congress president, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, has alleged that Mr. Naidu has betrayed the confidence of women by lifting the ban on prohibition, doing away with the Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme, increasing power tariff, etc.

Ms. Bahuguna, who was here on Saturday to participate in the district Mahila Congress convention, told newsmen that it was the Congress party that had accorded top priority for empowerment of women. She reminded that it was the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies. The concept of women self-help groups (SHG) was first introduced by the former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Alleging diversion of Central funds meant for empowerment of women, she said the State Government had provided matching grant to only 30,000 SHGs as against a total of 4.5 lakhs. She demanded that the State Government come out with a white paper the issue.

She asked the Government to hold talks with naxalites, as that was the only long-term solution to the problem. She alleged that Andhra Pradesh had gained the dubious distinction of high incidence of AIDS, low literacy rate, rampant child labour, mounting crime against women, etc.

She said the party would give more representation to women than any other party in the State and made it clear that only those candidates who had winning chances would be fielded. The State Mahila Congress president, J. Geetha Reddy, the district Mahila Congress president, Nerella Sharada, and others were present.

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