Women’s organisations and members of transgender community released a comprehensive manifesto on Saturday highlighting their electoral rights, including a claim for 33% reservations in the legislative assembly.
It stated 33% of all candidates fielded by parties should be women. Women’s organisations, which drafted the manifesto, included Progressive Organisation for Women and other cultural and political activists.
Rural employment
The manifesto also demanded political parties to promise that rural employment scheme will benefit at least 50% of women in working age group located in rural areas. All welfare schemes should be extended to women working in unorganised sector, it demanded.
“Demands in our manifesto should be added to manifestos of all political parties. Women and transgender persons demand special attention in each constituency,” Devi, cultural activist and feminist told The Hindu .
The manifesto also demanded that the government introduce shelter homes in urban areas for migrant women labourers to stay. Free education from KG to PG should be introduced to help women, it stressed.
Healthcare focus
Sixty per cent of the State budget for health should be earmarked for primary healthcare, it added. “Women are in need of primary healthcare which is always ignored during budget sessions,” the manifesto pointed out.
It also called for 2% reservation for transpersons in education and employment. Committee against sexual harassment should include rights of transpersons and pension should be given to those above 60 years of age. Transpersons also demanded political parties to extend benefits of housing scheme to them. Seats should be reserved for trans-persons in buses, it read.
