Nari shakti only in BJP’s slogan, not action: Cong.
Jairam Ramesh questions the saffron party’s record in implementing welfare schemes for women, lists out the Modi government’s failures, from ‘doubling of crime to unemployment’
On a day when an objectionable post by the Congress’ social media incharge Supriya Shrinate against actor and BJP candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Kangana Ranaut, triggered outrage, the Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for reducing the budget of womencentred welfare schemes, flagging five key problems.
Ms. Shrinate later clarified that the post had been authored by someone who had access to her social media accounts.
In a 11part post on ◣, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the Modi government’s record in the past 10 years in implementing various womencentric schemes. He said the BJP’s slogan of “nari shakti” (women empowerment) remained empty words without real action.
“For 10 years, the Ministry of Women and Child Development [MWCD] has seen only incompetence,
apathy, and an antiwomen mindset. While the Minister herself remains silent as women across India are assaulted, waking up only for crimes in nonBJPruled states, her Ministry diverts funds away from necessary schemes and hardworking women,” the Congress leader wrote.
Mr. Ramesh also listed out the five “failures” — doubling of crime against women and children, shrinking budget and underutilisation of funds, low pay and illtreatment of anganwadi workers, rising anaemia among women and children, and unemployment and loss of in
come among women.
Crimes on the rise
“Crime against women has almost doubled in the last 10 years — from 2.4 lakh crimes in 2012 to 4.5 lakh in 2022,” he said.
He also pointed out that the nonlapsable Nirbhaya fund instituted for addressing the issue remained unutilised. Until 2022, he noted, only 35% of this fund had been used.
Mr. Ramesh also questioned the BJP government’s silence over issues, including complaints of sexual harassment filed by women wrestlers against BJP Member of Parliament
Brij Bhushan Singh, freeing convicted rapists of Bilkis Bano, and even the incidents of sexual assault that came to the fore in Manipur.
“Most concerning, while every day a new report of rape and assault comes from Manipur, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women & Child Development have remained completely inertial. Even after horrific videos of women being assaulted have come out, no meaningful action has been taken. If she cannot even speak up on these issues, what exactly is the Minister of Women and Child Development doing?” he asked.
Dwindling budget
Mr. Ramesh further pointed out that in 202324, only 0.55% of the Union Budget had been allocated towards anganwadis, nutritional schemes, women’s security, and childcare institutions.
This trend, he said, was not new — the MWCD’s share of the Union Budget had been less than 0.75% for the last four years.