Naidu for 33% quota to women in legislative bodies

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today informed the Assembly that his government was providing 33 per cent reservation to women in government jobs.
Expressing concern over dwindling women population in the State, the Chief Minister said there was 49.8 per cent women population in the State. If the situation continues like this, in future grooms will have to pay money (dowry) to brides for getting married, he quipped. He said the women got justice only after the TDP formed government in the State. The credit of giving Rs 10 crore DWCRA loans to women goes to TDP government for first time in the country. It was late NT Ramarao, who provided equal rights to women in parental properties. “Our aim was to strive for elimination of poverty and there was dire need to increase opportunities for women in IT firms”, he said.
Stating there are over 8 lakh DWCRA groups in the State and it was a history that the government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore loan to these groups. Special seat arrangements were were made in all RTC buses. On-call taxi system was introduced in bus stand and railway stations and a control room was set up to monitor on-call system. The government was also providing free tests to women in the hospitals, Chandrababu Naidu said.
Responding to the comment of Leader of the Opposition Jaganmohan Reddy on women’s safety, the Chief Minister said all possible steps were being taken to protect women in Andhra Pradesh State. He informed the Assembly that the police would rush to the spot within 15 minutes after receipt of a distress call from woman victim. “Naidu said they would learn if others do a good thing. We don’t see anything wrong if we learn good things from others”, he quipped.
Refuting allegations on on-call taxi system, the Chief Minister said the system was started to protect the women if they face any injustice anywhere. There was no question of lenient attitude towards oppressors of women and his government would take stern action against the culprits, he said.
“The women will not feel secure and commands respect if she was not self-sufficient financially. There was a need of providing them reservation in all sectors. We have already moved a resolution on women reservation. Again we will move another resolution on reservation. We will create a history under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by providing 33 per cent reservations to women in Legislative bodies for which everybody has to extend their support”, he said.
Seeking permission of the Speaker, the Chief Minister introduced a resolution “providing for 33 per cent reservations to women in legislative bodies”. The resolution would be sent to the Centre after the Assembly passed it unanimously, he added. (NSS)