Mrs.Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member Parliament has today appealed to the Shromani Akali Dal and BJP to focus on women empowerment while drafting their manifestos and commit to the burning issues concerning women of Punjab in general and country in particular. She has suggested gender budgeting of each department so that women should get equal share in the development budget and other resources.
In a communiqué to Manifesto drafting Committee headed by Sardar S.S Dhindsa, MP, Mrs. Badal said that SAD manifesto should commit to Zero tolerance on female foeticide and female infanticide and vow to to get rid of stigma faced by Punjab. Besides bringing attitudinal change in the people the manifesto should express commitment of the Party to enforce PNDT Act strongly. She also suggested making provision for
Mandatorily disclosure of sex of foetus, so that premature abortion of female foetus could be checked.
Stressing upon the need for Special drive to provide extra nutrition to pregnant women Mrs. Badal said that Manifesto should also provide for special preventive measures for cancer among women and ensure free treatment for rural urban poor women patients.
Focusing on Drugs free Punjab , Mrs. Badal said that Manifesto
should commit to Zero tolerance on drugs. She said that to encourage women in sports a Special drive should be launched for sports for girls and this could be partly done by recruitment of women coaches for sports in schools.
Stressing on increasing employability of women, Mrs. Badal said that manifesto should commit for Special skill development program for women and increasing there share in government employment.
She said that Manifesto should commit for Safety and security of women and also commit for Zero tolerance on crime against women like : a She said that party should recommend deterrent punishment for crime against women especially for acid attack, rape.
She said that to encourage couples to opt for female child,Rs.5000/- should be paid on birth of girl child and Rs.15,000/- FIXEDDEPOSIT when she goes to class 5th and 10th.
She also suggested to widen the ambit of Mai Bhago Bicycles scheme to also include class 9th and 10th students. She also said free school buses should be introduced in villages to ferry girl students.