The Hindu : Centre scuttling Women's Bill: AIDWA

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Saturday, Feb 28, 2004

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Centre scuttling Women's Bill: AIDWA

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, FEB. 27. The national general secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Brinda Karat, today squarely blamed the Vajpayee Government for "scuttling" the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament.

She was speaking after inaugurating the public meeting held at the Muthalakulam Maidan here in connection with the seventh State conference of the AIDWA (which commenced today and will conclude on Sunday.)

"Despite the main Opposition — the Congress — and the Left Parties giving an undertaking in writing to support the legislation, the NDA Government had failed to introduce the bill in Parliament for fear of losing the support of its constituent parties," she said.Ms. Karat asked women to find out to what extent their position had improved. "The picture that confronts women is bleak. The `feel good' factor being advertised by the Government is far from the reality. As per international statistics and Planning Commission figures, 70 per cent of the children in the country are malnourished. Two-thirds go to sleep hungry. This is when six crore tonnes of wheat and rice are rotting in Government godowns," she said.

Women were the worst-affected due to liberalisation and globalisation. Now, women, in rural areas especially, worked harder but ate less. Ms. Karat sought to disclaim the seven per cent growth rate being projected. Instead, she said there was "zero growth rate in the public sector" and "minus growth rate" in the rural sector.

The West Bengal joint secretary of the AIDWA, Rekha Goswami, the Kerala unit president, M.C. Josephine, the district general secretary, P.K. Sreemathi, and Central Committee members were present.

Earlier, hundreds of women participated in a rally, which started from the beach to the meeting venue.

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