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LUCKNOW: In yet another move to win over women voters ahead of 2022 UP assembly elections, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday announced that if voted to power, her party would give smartphones to girls who pass Class XII and electronic scooter to those who are graduates.
On Tuesday, Congress had announced it would give 40% tickets to women candidates in the upcoming assembly elections due early next year.
“I had met some girl students who said they need smartphones for studies and security. I am happy that with the consent of the manifesto committee, the UP Congress today took a decision to give smartphones to the girls who pass Intermediate and electronic scooter to graduates,” Priyanka tweeted.
Priyanka also shared a video clip of schoolgirls whom she had spoken to on Wednesday. One girl said that Priyanka asked them if they had phones to click selfies. “We told her that we don’t have phones and that they are not allowed in our colleges. She promised to announce that girls would get phones and we said that would help in our safety also,” said a girl.
“She told us to study hard. We want her to continue meeting and interacting with us,” said another student.
Later, UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu said successive governments made tall claims of providing a safe and conducive environment to women, but all of them fell flat.
“India ranks 148th among 188 countries when it comes to political participation of women with just 12% women representatives in the Lok Sabha and 19% in UP Vidhan Sabha. Ensuring that women get educated is the first step towards actual participation of women in all walks of life,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Shuchi Vishvas Srivastava said, “Our party not only believes in women empowerment, it also works to make it happen. Education empowers women and this will ensure girls do not drop out after senior secondary.”
Congress is not the first party to promise smartphones. On October 6, ruling BJP announced a smartphone distribution scheme. In an official statement, the state government said it will give smartphones to students for free so that they can continue their studies even from home.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party had given laptops to students in its regime and had promised to give smartphones in its manifesto for the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.
On Tuesday, Congress had announced it would give 40% tickets to women candidates in the upcoming assembly elections due early next year.
“I had met some girl students who said they need smartphones for studies and security. I am happy that with the consent of the manifesto committee, the UP Congress today took a decision to give smartphones to the girls who pass Intermediate and electronic scooter to graduates,” Priyanka tweeted.
Priyanka also shared a video clip of schoolgirls whom she had spoken to on Wednesday. One girl said that Priyanka asked them if they had phones to click selfies. “We told her that we don’t have phones and that they are not allowed in our colleges. She promised to announce that girls would get phones and we said that would help in our safety also,” said a girl.
“She told us to study hard. We want her to continue meeting and interacting with us,” said another student.
Later, UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu said successive governments made tall claims of providing a safe and conducive environment to women, but all of them fell flat.
“India ranks 148th among 188 countries when it comes to political participation of women with just 12% women representatives in the Lok Sabha and 19% in UP Vidhan Sabha. Ensuring that women get educated is the first step towards actual participation of women in all walks of life,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Shuchi Vishvas Srivastava said, “Our party not only believes in women empowerment, it also works to make it happen. Education empowers women and this will ensure girls do not drop out after senior secondary.”
Congress is not the first party to promise smartphones. On October 6, ruling BJP announced a smartphone distribution scheme. In an official statement, the state government said it will give smartphones to students for free so that they can continue their studies even from home.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party had given laptops to students in its regime and had promised to give smartphones in its manifesto for the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.
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