This election, women are making sure that political parties better sit up and listen to their demands, if they want their votes. Releasing a women’s manifesto ahead of the elections, the state women’s group have listed out several demands and are planning to give a copy to candidates of all political parties.

The top demand on behalf of the Stree Mukti Andolan Sampark Samiti — which is a state level forum of 40 womens’ organisations — is that the candidates work towards reining in the rising prices of commodities.

“Commodity prices have increased to unacceptable levels. We want prices to be brought down. We also want a list of 14 items — of pulses and food grains — to be included in the Public Distribution System,” said Sanyogita Dhamdhere, representative of Centre for Advocacy and Research.

The Samiti has called for the revision and update of existing women-centric policies formulated over the last two decades. “The Shiv Sena- BJP government and the Congress-NCP government had formulated two women-centric policies. However, they were not completely implemented. We want a revision of these policies and the next government to form a new women’s policy,” she said.

Some of the other demands of womens’ groups are: proper implementation of the Domestic Violence Act — till now there is no budgetary provision for the Act, while protection officers have no powers. Self help groups are yet to get loans at 4 per cent interest.

The manifesto also calls for a special package for the widows of farmers’ who committed suicide. It demands aid for drought-hit families. Despite the rising demand for Employment Guarantee Schemes, women are often not considered, Dhamdhere said. “Also single women — whether they are widowed or divorced or unmarried — are rarely considered for the EGS. We are also calling for a single women census,” she added.

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