MARGAO
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Digambar Kamat on Saturday slammed the opposition parties for sabotaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to provide 50 per cent reservation for women in the State Assemblies and in Parliament.
Saying the BJP government at the centre and in Goa are working for the upliftment and empowerment of women, Kamat further said the government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant would soon unveil a scheme to provide financial assistance for women who want to become commercial pilots.
In fact, Kamat said the strength of the Goa Legislative Assembly would have gone up to 52 seats if Prime Minister Modi had his way with the Legislation, providing 50 per cent reservation for women. Speaking at an impressive Mathagram Mahila melava organised by the BJP in the city here on Saturday, the PWD Minister urged the women to question the opposition leaders for blocking 50 per cent reservations for women when they come to their doorsteps asking for votes.
“The Prime Minister is still prepared to bring the 50 per cent women reservation Bill in Parliament. The women should extend all out support to the Prime Minister to achieve the dream of 50 per cent reservation. In Goa, the number of seats of the Goa Legislative Assembly would have gone up to 52 after giving 50 per cent reservation for women”, Kamat said. In his address, Chief Mnister Pramod Swant said the double engine BJP government in Delhi and Goa is working for the welfare of the women irrespective of caste and creed. He said the Chief Minister said the government has come out with various scheme to meet the educational requirements of the students. “We have a scheme wherein tuition fees are refunded to the students belonging to the OBCs, SCs, STs and Economically weaker sections if they register with the Chief Minister’s portal. Similarly, he said the government would wholeheartedly support women in becoming entreprenerus if they take the first step, even promising that the government is ready to host the 15-day EDC programme right in Margao for the benefit of women.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the counselling services offered by dedicated government-appointed counsellors, reminding that around 33,000 people have so far availed counselling facilities. Meanwhile, PWD Minister Digambar’s Kamat’s daughter-in-law Neha celebrated her birthday at the Melava by cutting the birthday cake. BJP State President Damu Naik, Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuemkar, Neha and others also spoke at the womens' meeting.
