Women’s groups frown on CM’s zeal for welfare

The CM was joined by his deputy Gopinath Munde, Minister of state for Women and Child Welfare Babanrao Gholap, members of the WCW department, while the groups present included Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana (JMS), Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS), Swadhar, Special Cell for Women, Bal Asha Trust and Mahila Dakshata Samiti.

Following widespread criticism, the government is likely to abolish the provision in the policy on funding women’s programmes with revenue earned from the cess on liquor. Employment schemes are proposed to be launched to ensure that the 30 per cent reservation for women in government,

semi-government and grant-in-aid institutions can be implemented. Maternity leave for women up to 6 months and paternity leave up to 15 days is on the anvil, as is allocation of 30 per cent of budget outlay for women’s programmes.

The revision of the policy had begun in October 1997 amid much controversy, with several groups alleging that they were excluded from the process.

Veteran Janata Dal leader Mrinal Gore, for instance, received a letter asking for suggestions on the policy days after the last date for submission. And Madhavi Hegde-Karandikar of Bal Asha received her letter for a meeting only an hour before it actually began. This indicated the government’s lack of serious interest in the issue, rued some groups.

They also dubbed the move to dedicate the year to womenas an election gimmick. Pointed out Kiran Moghe, JMS state secretary, “Why this sudden interest in revision when elections are around the corner? What about an action taken report on whatever has been achieved so far?” If the sheer number of government resolutions (GRs) issued since 1994 is any indication, the policy has miles to go in terms of implementation. Decisions have been taken on issuing of joint ration cards in husband’s and wife’s name, application for allotment of land to be made jointly in the name of husband and wife, reservation of 30 per cent of seats for women in government, semi-government and grant-in-aid institutions, closure of liquor shops in villages if 50 per cent of women vote for it.

Facilities on paper alone

The BMC has filed an affidavit in Bombay High Court regarding facilities provided to contract labourers working in dumping grounds. But few facilities are actually provided.

Two thousand contract labourers are involved in garbage cleaning in Mumbai.According to the affidavit submitted by deputy chief engineer of the solid waste management, Sudhakar Barbudhe, in September, contract labourers are provided hand-gloves, goggles, raincoats and first aid box, besides the facilities of routine checkups and water.

However, the labourers denied they were provided any of these. Each worker is paid just Rs 35 for working for eight to 10 hours. Though the affidavit says contract labourers are entitled to a paid holiday on January 26, the workers complained they didn’t get a holiday either on January 26 or August 15.

Standing committee members Ravindra Pawar and Digambar Kandarkar alleged the administration had filed a misguiding affidavit. Pawar informed that commissioner Girish Gokhale had promised in June 1997 that gloves and other masks would be provided to labourers, but this has not been done.