the goan I network
VASCO
Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress led by Adv Pratima Coutinho on Sunday evening demanded reservation of one seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha election for a woman. She has also demanded that women be given a reservation of 33 percent at the assembly election in the State.
Coutinho was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Priyadarshini programme held at Zuarinagar Birla in the presence of ZP Member Sancoale, Marian Gilbert Rodrigues, and other members of Mahila Congress.
She said that the entry of Priyanka Gandhi in active politics was like the return of Indira Gandhi and implied that the time for women to participate in mainstream politics had arrived. “It was Rajiv Gandhi who had given 33 percent reservation for women in politics so that they get representation in zilla panchayats, municipal councils, legislative assembly and panchayat. It was because of this women got to hold important political positions. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi want this reservation for women empowerment.”
“The latest news of Priyanka Gandhi entering active politics gives us a feeling that Indira Gandhi is back and we feel that the time for women to contest mainstream elections has come. Coming assembly election, we Mahila Congress will demand 33 percent reservation for Mahila (9 seats) and looking at the trend of young women coming out and joining politics, we will demand one seat for the Mahila in the upcoming LS elections,” Coutinho said.
She said that the seat to be given to a Mahila should be someone who has worked for the party from its grassroots level and not to any imported candidate. “Mahila Congress will demand that at least one seat for LS should be given to a woman and 33 percent (9 seats) at the assembly election. We feel that a woman takes a decision from the heart and not from the mind,” she added. Priyadarshini (Name of Indira Gandhi) is a programme organised by Mahila Congress with an intention to get more young women into active politics.
The programme which saw various competitions like rangoli and dance in Sancoale saw an enrollment of around 350 women who were given certificates at the end of the event.
Marian Rodrigues, ZP Member Sancoale and guest of honour at the programme, said that the arrangements were done in a time frame of seven days to hold the event at Sancoale. “We have around 250 women participating in various events and around 150 women who have come to attend the function and enroll themselves as Priyadarshini. Our Mahila President is doing a fantastic job.”
