COIMBATORE: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday called upon women to play a decisive role in ensuring the party’s return to power.
Addressing the DMK women's wing western zone conference of the party's women's wing titled ‘Vellum Tamil Pengal’ at Palladam, Stalin said it is certain that the DMK will return to power because of women's power.
The DMK implemented 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies and later increased it to 50 per cent. Today, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women Mayors,” he said.
The DMK implemented 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies and later increased it to 50 per cent. Today, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women Mayors,”
CM Stalin
Reiterating the party’s demand for effective implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, Stalin said the BJP-led Union government passed the 33 per cent women’s reservation bill with unnecessary conditions, and there is still no clarity on when it will be implemented. Their approach is like saying ‘operation successful, but patient dead,'" he said.
Listing various schemes such as Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai, Vidiyal Payanam, and Pudhumai Penn introduced for the welfare of women, Stalin accused the Centre of halting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which provides crucial livelihood support for women across the country.
“Over the last four years, almost 86 per cent of beneficiaries under the 100-day employment scheme are women. Because of this, the rural economy and cash flow in the rural economy may take a severe hit,” he said.
Attacking AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami for what he claimed was spreading a false narrative that the 100-day employment scheme has been extended to 125 days. Stalin said that workers have received an average of only 47 days of work per year. “To make matters worse, the new scheme has imposed additional financial burdens on states and strict conditions. Palaniswami issues only statements dictated by the BJP, he said.
Calling upon women cadres to take the party’s welfare schemes door to door, Stalin urged them to use social media effectively to strengthen the party. He also assured that the Dravidian model government 2.0 will expand the party’s existing welfare schemes for women.
Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin and Member of Parliament Kanimozhi also spoke at the meeting.