Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh lighting the lamp at a function organised by Salcete Gomantak Bhandari Samaj to celebrate International Womens Day on Tuesday in Margao. The president of the Samaj, Anil Hoble and Ravindra Bhavan chairman Damodar Naik is also seen. Santosh Mirajkar
Wagh predicts reservations for women in 2022 elections
Says education is biggest weapon to uplift Bhandari Samaj
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh predicted that elections to be held in 2022 are likely to have reservations for women in the State Legislative Assembly.
Addressing a gathering of women on the occasion of International Women's Day organised by Salcete Taluka Gomantak Bhandari Samaj, Wagh said due to these reservations, there is a likelihood of 11 out of the 40 seats being reserved for women. Keeping this in mind, he urged women to strive towards identifying and grooming such women in the Bhandari community for a leadership role who can then be projected on the State canvas to represent this community in the State Assembly. “Let us identify talent and project them,” Wagh told the audience.
Going a step further, Wagh said the Bhandari Samaj must ensure that six out of the eleven women so elected must belong to the Bhandari community. “Gradually, we could increase their number to 11,” Wagh told the audience.
At the same time, he also warned the Bhandari community that reservations by virtue of the OBC status may not last forever, especially once the community has sufficient representation in various areas such as administration and other such professional fields. In this regard, Wagh said the onus of upliftment of the downtrodden among the Bhandari community lies on the better placed women in the society.
To facilitate this process, Wagh called on his comunity brethern to enumerate a list of such officer placed in senior positions and organise a meet of the community brethren with such officers for ensuring a healthy interaction.
He also higlighted the importance of education in the upliftment of the Bhandari Samaj, while terming education as the “biggest weapon.”
Referring to the Bhandari Food Festival proposed to be held at the Kala Academy on April 17, Wagh expressed the need for Bhandari women to conserve the rich heritage of the Bhandari cuisine.
Ravindra Bhavan chairman Damodar Naik, president of the Samaj Anil Hoble, secretary Upendra Gaonkar and mahila president Shubhangi Waigankar also spoke.
