MP for 33% women’s quota in govt jobs

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday pitched for reserving 33% jobs in state government departments, barring forest, for women.

Chouhan’s remarks came at an event for members of self-help groups (SHGS), where he once again kept the forest department out of the reservation purview, arguing that such roles took officers on the field and hence, could not be made available for women.

The programme was attended by Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu among others. Official sources said the state’s police force, too, had requested the CM to keep the department out of the reservation ambit as here too, personnel have to be out in the field. However, the CM insisted women could be accommodated in official roles, sources added.

“Women will be appointed in 33% posts in police department. When they hold guns, they won’t hesitate in showering bullets on criminals,” he said, adding that 50% posts of teachers will also be reserved for women. Naidu, too, advocated reservation for women in government jobs.

Chouhan said women were doing better than men in various fields and were running the government better than men. He added that markets would be established in all big cities to sell products made by SHGS.

“The products made by the self-help groups are better than those manufactured by multinational companies and advertised by film stars,” the chief minister added.