Reserve 50% govt jobs for women: Mahila Cong

Reserve 50% govt jobs for women: Mahila Cong
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, SEPT 29
The All India Mahila Congress Chief Prabha Thakur has urged the Goa government to reserve 50 per cent of government jobs for women of the State.
She, however, evaded a question from newsmen why Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes, being the lone woman MLA, has not found representation in the Digambar Kamat Minister Cabinet. “In Goa, there are only 40 Assembly seats. That can be one problem to accommodate everyone in the Cabinet”, she said, adding that women would automatically find a berth in the Ministry once 33 per cent of reservation for Parliament and State Assemblies come into force.
Addressing Goa Mahila Congress members at a function here Wednesday evening, Thakur said women comprises nearly 50 per cent of the population and the government would only do justice to them if 25-30 per cent government jobs are reserved for the fairer sex. “Women face a lot of difficulties while seeking government jobs. All these hardships can be overcome if jobs are reserved for women”, she said.
The All India Congress Mahila chief has said the UPA government under the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi is determined to provide 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. “It is because of Sonia Gandhi that the Reservation Bill was introduced and passed in Rajya Sabha. It is a matter of time that the UPA will get the Bill passed in Lok Sabha as well”, she said, adding that Sonia Gandhi is committed to fulfill the dreams of late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
Saying that women in Goa are educated and empowered economically, Thakur attributed Goan women are better placed as compared to their counterparts in other parts of the country as they are equal partners to the wealth of the husband. “Because of this unique position, Goa witnesses less number of cases of domestic violence and other atrocities”, she added.
In his address, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat did not respond to the demand for reservation of jobs for women, but underlined the need for the fairer sex to stand on their legs.
Saying that women should have patience in politics, Kamat said that patience is the catch word in politics, and reminded Mahila Congress workers that the government is making all out efforts to ensure that women are independent.
GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar, Goa Congress Mahila Chief Monica Dias, Pramod Salgaonkar and others also spoke.