HYDERABAD: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and member of Parliament Brinda Karat on Friday described the United Progressive Alliance Government's understanding of growth as "very partial" as it did not take into account social justice. She demanded increased expenditure on social sector, health, education and women's employment.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme, along with Subhashini Ali, national president, AIDWA, organised by the Hyderabad Union of Journalists (HUJ) here, she said "you can't have growth measured by Sensex and profit margins of companies. Growth requires policies, which include growth of the most depressed and exploited sections, including women."

She demanded increased expenditure on social sector, health, education and women's employment.

It was clear that there was no departure from the previous policy, which would not help women. Instead of being strengthened SHGs were being converted into "Government help groups." Referring to the savings of Rs.10,000 crores deposited in banks by women, she said loans worth four times more should be provided.

She wanted Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and the Planning Commission to change the policies to strengthen SHGs with emphasis on women's needs and ensure that loans with low interest rates were made available to them.

Ms. Karat criticised the Government for adopting a "negative attitude" and delaying the Tribal Rights Bill in spite of a unanimous recommendation by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Government was giving permission to industries and projects in tribal areas. The delay in bringing the Bill showed that it was to displace tribals.

Referring to a spurt in violence against women, she called for strengthening laws against sexual harassment.

She said the SEZ policy which allowed 75 per cent of the area to be used for non-manufacturing and infrastructure was against workers, peasants and women.

Replying to a question, she said the Women's Bill would help Muslim women and OBCs. To another query, she said the two-child norm to be eligible for contesting local body elections was highly `undemocratic.'

Earlier, referring to the bill, Ms. Ali said though the country was the biggest democracy, the truth was women, constituting half of the population, were not yet given rights. Their representation in Parliament was eight per cent and in Assemblies six per cent, while it was 20 per cent each in Pakistan and Palestine. Nepal also planned to provide one-third reservation. She hit out at the BJP for opposing the Bill, saying its plans would not be allowed to succeed.

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