The Congress party has rekindled its flagship NYAY scheme and revealed. a slew of women-centric initiatives.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, dusted off and revived NYAY, the centrepiece of its 2019 manifesto promise, and announced that the party, if voted to power would give Rs 1 lakh annually to a woman of every poor family.
NYAY, short for Nyuntam Aay Yojana, pledged a guaranteed cash transfer of Rs 72,000 per year to the poorest 20 per cent of Indian families. In its revived form, the Congress has magnified its focus on women empowerment by promising to allocate Rs 1 lakh annually to one woman from every impoverished household. Additionally, the party has pledged to enforce 50 per cent reservation for women in new appointments within the central government.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accompanied by senior leader Rahul Gandhi, unveiled the revamped initiative, termed "Mahila Nyay," at a women's rally in Maharashtra's Dhule district. Kharge emphasized the significance of these guarantees, labelling them as "pathar ki lakeer" (set in stone) rather than mere political rhetoric.
The specifics regarding the financial implications of these promises remain unclear. When questioned about the number of families that would benefit from the scheme, T S Singh Deo, former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and convenor of the Congress manifesto committee, highlighted the necessity of updated census data. He asserted that the implementation of these schemes hinges on accurate enumeration by the government.
Deo also said, that "While estimates suggest varying percentages of impoverished families, the Congress remains resolute in its commitment to uplift the underprivileged". Despite the absence of recent census data, Deo expressed confidence in achieving the outlined goals once accurate figures are available.
The Congress has outlined additional measures aimed at bolstering women's rights and socioeconomic status. These include doubling the Centre's contribution to the salaries of Anganwadi, ASHA, and mid-day meal scheme workers, as well as appointing legal assistants in every panchayat to educate women on their rights. Additionally, the party has proposed the construction of working women's hostels in all district headquarters, paying homage to social reformer Savitribai Phule.
While some skeptics question the feasibility of these ambitious promises, Deo remains steadfast in his assurance, suggesting that job reservations can be implemented through executive orders rather than constitutional amendments.
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