DPCC Chief Spokesperson and Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congess President Smt. Sharmistha Mukherjee addressed a press conference today at the DPCC office on the failures of the the Kejriwal Government to address the women’s issues

New Delhi, 13 February 2018- DPCC Chief Spokesperson and Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congess  President Smt. Sharmistha Mukherjee  addressed a press conference today at the DPCC office on the failures of the the Kejriwal Government to address the women’s issues. The following points were raised by her during her press conference.

#AAP Failed Women

Misogynist AAP Govt

·         No women in the cabinet even after three years

·         Several AAP MLAs and senior leaders charged with alleged misbehaviour, even rape. No action taken against these leaders by the party high command

·         Former minister for Women and Child Welfare of Delhi Govt had to step down following a sex scandal. No new minister has been appointed as yet

·         During Punjab elections, women workers of the party complained against senior leaders of sexual harassment. No action has been taken against any of the leaders

Closing down of Gender Resource Centre (GRCs)

·         Gender Resource Centres: A flagship program of the Congress Govt in Delhi, GRCs were created for empowering women from under privileged background

·         Main activities: Social Empowerment, Legal rights, Economic initiatives like skill building, micro enterprises and entrepreneurship development, Health, functional literacy

·         Other than these, centres were being used by the govt in the past to facilitate common mans’ access to social initiatives such as Aadhar card, Annashree card, RashtriyaSwasthaBima Yojana, and lately PM’s Jan Dhan Yojana. Thus, they catered to the needs of all members of under privileged section of the society, not just women.

·         GRCs functioned in collaboration with relevant Govt Depts, NGOs working with women and children, legal and health experts, vocational and educational experts

·         The centres were arbitrarily shut down by an order of Delhi Govt. with effect from 31^st May 2016.

·         This resulted in closure of nearly 103 GRCs, 26 extension centres, 5 homeless resource centrs, 5 district resource centres, 43 AwaazUthao centres

·         Thousands of people were rendered jobless in one stroke. This sudden closure resulted in harassment for lacs of beneficiaries as well as students enrolled in various vocational courses.

·         There was a deliberate attempt by the AAP Govt to make these centres non functional since they came to power. The employees were not paid salaries for months. So has been the fate of 181, the dedicated helpline for women that had been rendered non functional due to non-payment of salaries of the stuff

Delhi Governments Indifference to Womens’ safety

·         Delhi Govt failed to use ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ and has not sought money from the scheme to set up One Stop Centres that were to be established for addressing all forms of gender based violence; and offering legal support and creating temporary shelter for victims

·         In 2016-17, out of 6,100 reports of domestic violence cases were filed, out of which only 224 women were provided with legal helf, and only 18 were provided some monetary relief by the Delhi Govt.

·         It’s been three years, yet no sign of Marshals in the busses, which was one of its major election promises

·         AAP promised CCTV in DTC and Cluster busses from Nirbhaya Fund. No proposal for such has been sent to Union Ministry of Women and Child Development

·         There is no monitoring mechanism for existing CCTV cameras

·         Even after three years in govt, there’s no plan in sight for improving last mile connectivity which is essential for ensuring security for women

·         AAP promised to increase the Hostel facility for workingwomen, but shockingly, it closed down 77% running hotles. In 2013-14, the number of womens’ hostels were 18. 14 of these have been closed in last 3 years, only 4 remain function in 2016-17

Female Health at Risk

·         Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, there has been 26% decline in cases of pregnant women counselling. From 1,68,808, it came down to 1,24,759

·         During the same period, there has been a decling of 20% in cases of lactating women counselling. From 1,28,554 it came down to 1,02,383

·         Number of maternal death cases has increased from 399 in 2014-15 to 508 in 2016-17, an increase of 21%

·         Free sanitary napkins were distributed to girls students from class VI to class XII in Delhi Govt schools under KishoriYojna, but that has been shelved by AAP govt. RTI by NGO Matri Sudha reports that in 2017-18, Rs. 16 cr were allocated for the project, but nothing has been spent so far.

Safe and Clean Public Toilets Remain a Dream

Ø  Swachh Bharat Mission: (Works Under DUSIB- Delhi Government Agency ):

·         During 2015-16 and 2016-17 no any project completed by DUSIB as executing agency of SBM-Projects of Delhi Government.

·         DUSIB Targeted to complete 1314 Toilets by 2017-18, but till September 2017 only 384 i.e. 29% of the target completed.

·         In Totality, since inception of SBM dated 2^nd Oct 2014 till September’17 DUSIB only builds up 384 toilets.

A survey conducted by Action Aid India in December 2016 revealed that

·         One in every three toilets don’t have separate provision for women

·         71% were not cleaned regularly

·         Over 72% lacked visible signboards

·         65% didn’t have flush facility

·         50% didn’t have water facility

·         28% didn’t have doors

·         45% didn’t have mechanisms to lock from inside

·         Over 50% didn’t have lights

·         64% didn’t have any guard- a serious security concern

Budget Cut in Ladli Yojana: A program to provide education-linked financial assistance to girl child. From Rs. 112.29 cr, it came down to Rs. 96.68 cr in 2016-17