Shillong, Feb 16: The Congress women leaders have revealed poor report card of NPP on women empowerment.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, AICC media coordinator Bobbeeta Sharma and state Mahila Congress leader Joplin Scott Shylla said although the 2018 manifesto of NPP promised empowerment of women in the state, the data tells another story.
Sharma said the 5th round of the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-5 2019-20) exposed the condition of healthcare in Meghalaya regarding maternal and child health, child vaccinations, and other aspects. Only 26% of children under the age of 12 months received any immunisation.
While maternal mortality rate is 197 per 100000, infant mortality rate stands at 34 per thousand.
The NPP had claimed that institutional delivery in the state has gone up to 64% but latest data from NFHS 5 shows that Institutional delivery in the state is only 58% (as per NHFS) which is much lower than the national average of 88.6% (NHFS 5)
46.5% of children are stunted (height for age ratio due to lack of nutrition) (NFHS 5)
Rates of teenage pregnancy is 7.9% in the state which is much higher than the national average of 6.8%. Meghalaya also has a high rate of child marriage at 16.6%, she said.
The NPP had also announced that it will take steps to decrease the school drop-out rate in the state. However, the Gross Enrolment Ratio in 2019-20 for Meghalaya remains lower than the other Northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
According to the Congress leader, NPP promised in 2018 to build a higher secondary school in every block and sub-division and strengthen infrastructure of existing schools. There has been little progres in this regard.
The state home minister mentioned in the Assembly that around one-third of the crimes committed against women in the state were on girls under the age of 18.
According to the NCRB data, crimes against women in Meghalaya have been higher than its peer states of the North East with similar population. The 2021 NCRB data shows the number of cases of crimes against women in Meghalaya is 685 which is much higher than other Northeastern states.
In addition to this, human trafficking cases have not been controlled by the state and central governments, she added.
Cong encourages women in politics
Sharma said Congress party has always encouraged women in politics.
“We have had women MLAs, women cabinet ministers in Meghalaya, working president at party level, woman Rajya Sabha MP and Member of National Women Commission from Meghalaya. Congress acknowledges the importance of women’s participation in the decision making process in governance”, the party leader said.
Sharma said this time in Meghalaya, the Congress party has fielded ten women candidates who are accomplished in their own right. The youngest is 28 years old.
“We are happy that they have come forward to serve the people of Meghalaya through the Congress party. We also appeal to the women of Meghalaya to come forward and support our women candidates”, she added.
Congress party is sensitive to the need of women of Meghalaya to have a meaningful source of income with which they will be able to sustain themselves and their family, the Congress leader said.
“We understand the needs of women change across age groups and we will work with women for their empowerment. Keeping this in mind Congress Party has proposed initiatives to improve women’s lives” she said.
Cong’s commitment to women
The party leader said the Congress is committed to providing free health care for all citizens under the new Free Health Care Scheme.
“We will undertake special entrepreneurship training programmes for women to make them self- sufficient and financially independent and a monthly income of Rs.3000 will be provided to all single mothers below the poverty line”, she said.
Congress is committed to providing free education to every girl child in Meghalaya from Kindergarten to XII standard. This initiative will go a long way in empowering every girl-child to fulfil their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, she said.
Other initiatives reproduced below
“We will provide every BPL household with quality roofing materials in a phased implementation.
We will provide 200 units of free power to each household with consumption expenditure below the poverty line (BPL).
We will provide free LPG cylinder quarterly to each household with consumption expenditure below the poverty line (BPL).
We shall establish an exclusive market for women where products with “Proudly Made in Meghalaya” tag will be marketed and sold.
We are committed to establishing a Special Urban Police Force which will be modern, people-friendly and equipped to handle city-based crime scenario using the latest technology and equipment and increased reservation for women in the police force”.
