This election season we have been looking at #WomensRepresentation in the Parliament from different states.
Here's the short and dismal story, from Himachal Pradesh #LokSabhaElections2019
The women MPs elected from Himachal Pradesh since 1951 :
Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, from Mandi- Mahasu seat – 1951
Chandresh Kumari, from Kangra – 1984
Pratibha Singh, from Mandi – 2004 and 2013 (By Polls)
“Only one woman -Nisha Katoch- is contesting the #LokSabhaElections2019 in Himachal Pradesh, even when women account for 49% of the electorate in the state and are more proactive voters”
Nisha Kotach is contesting as an Independent candidate from Kangra.
Parliament passed 3 new Farm Bills
-The Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill
- Farming Produce, Trade, Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill
- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill
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'Contract farming' rules with agri businesses w/o the intervention of middlemen hampers women farmers’ collective bargaining power at local mandis to ensure fair prices.
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Cutting out middlemen who also act as 'informal bankers' dries up an important source of credit for women farmers who have limited access to institutional credit. An Oxfam study in UP observed less than 4% women have institutional credit access.
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#Thread How draft rules Code of Wages Bill affect women workers
Govt of India released draft rules of the Code of wages Bill in July 2020. 1/10 #LabourReforms
Feminist economists and activists say the rules are patriarchal and exclusionary in a consultation by @OxfamIndia. Major points follow 2/10 #LabourReforms
The framing in the Code of Wages Bill is exclusionary of other genders. The definition of worker and workplace is male. This also excludes Transgender persons. The wage slip & Form VI to write the Sex/Gender of the person is missing. 3/10 #LabourReforms
GoI proposed changes to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act under section 10 2(c) and 10 2(b) of the, to pave the way for auctioning of around 500 potential leases. A #thread on what this means for women in mining areas. 1/13
Govt's proposed reform, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme, aims to enhance private investment in the sector.
They also aim to increase mineral production and employment, developing a transparent National Mineral Index and clarifying the definition of illegal mines.
The struggles of single women have increased during the lockdown with lack of basic facilities, loss of employment, and increased mental health issues. Yet, they are not recognised in covid support schemes. 1/10
Single women face violation of basic human rights and lack the support they need as society perpetuates a patriarchal norm. They are neither a homogeneous group, and have several intersections that exacerbate their struggle. 2/10
There was a 39% increase in the number of single women – widows, never married, divorced, abandoned from 5.1 crore women in 2001 to 7.1 crore in 2011, according to census data. widows constitute only 18% of the single women. 3/10
1.Withdraw privatization proposals of basic services- health , nutrition (including ICDS and MDMS)
2.Make the Centrally Sponsored Schemes - ICDS, NHM, MDMS permanenent 3. Regularization of scheme workers as workers
1. 4000 as Covid pay 2. Declaration and status as health workers and permanent staff 3. Govt empanelled hospital facilities for treatment of Asha workers
From #Asha workers protest in Haryana.
Pic courtesy: Asha workers Union, Haryana
Image decrpition: ASHA worker holding a placard that reads ' its not for fun we strike. We strike because it is necessary"