From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : The Congress Party assures that if elected to power in the state it’s government would provide 50% reservation for women in government jobs. All India Mahila Congress President Sushmita Dev said, if the Congress leadership in the assembly elections comes to power, 50% in government jobs will be reserved for women. Sushmita Dev said the Congress-led coalition will focus more on the upliftment of women and youth. Sushmita Dev said, “When the Congress-led Grand Alliance government is formed, 50 per cent reservation for women will be implemented. This is our guarantee. We will do these things first. The Congress has entered into an agreement with AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI (M), CPI (male) and Zonal Gana Morcha (AGM) for the elections to be held in 126 seats in the Assam assembly. Dev said the Congress and the Grand Alliance believe in accountability and job guarantees. “The women and youth of Assam do not want a bailout,” he said while addressing various schemes relating to direct benefit transfer of the BJP-led state government. They want job opportunities and contribute to the economy of the state. Dev said that the women’s reservation issue will also be included in the manifesto for the forthcoming assembly elections in Assam. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi announced five guarantees of the Grand Alliance on March 2.
The party announced an increase in 5 lakh government jobs, Rs. 2,000 per month to each domestic woman, free electricity up to 200 units, law for cancellation of amended citizenship law and minimum wages of tea plantation workers to Rs. 365. All India Congress Committee general secretary Jitendra Singh said that the party’s ‘ Assam Bachao Ahok Yatra ‘ has set a distance of 10,000 kilometres in the state and the campaign approached the weaker sections of the society. “While talking to people, it was learnt that unemployment is the biggest issue. It is also an important issue for the youth working in the state not to get adequate salaries. Congress Legislature party leader Devrata Saikia has asked all unemployed youths to register on a website launched recently.
Congress Publicity Campaign Committee chairman Prayut Bardoloi claimed that There is a shortfall of 40,000 health workers, 38,000 school teachers, 12,000 college teachers and 15,000 policemen in Assam. There is a sizeable number of women in the voters of Assam. There are 1.14 crore women voters out of 2.31 crore voters in the state. The Congress ‘ Assam unit president Ripun Bora said that a separate department will be set up to create employment when the Grand Alliance gets power. “We have already announced five lakh government jobs on the formation of the government. The BJP had promised to provide 2.5 lakh jobs in five years but in fact only 80,000 youths got employment in five years. ’
