Cong ensured 33% quota to women in Panchayati Raj: Bhalla

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,  Mar 31:  The J&K Mahila Congress has asked women to come forward for larger participation in the democratic institutions of Panchayati Raj in the State in view of the quota of  33% reserved for women at all levels by the previous  coalition Governments of Congress and NC due to incorporation of the provision of 73rd amendment in the State laws.
Addressing meeting of  Pradesh Mahila Congress here today  former Minister senior PCC leader Raman Bhalla who was the chief guest on the occasion said that  women have to come forward in a big way to ensure larger participation in the democratic institutions which is essential to ensure their greater role in every sphere of life.
He said that their larger participation in the democratic institutions would strengthen position of women in the society.
He said that it was the continuous struggle of the Congress Party under the leadership of  Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi that the provisions of 73rd & 74th amendment were incorporated  in the State laws in March 2014, which has ensured the  reservation for women in PRIs at all levels up to 33%.
Indu Pawar  president Mahila Congress while presiding over the meeting  expressed  gratitude to the Congress leadership for ensuring 33% reservation to women in the Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies in the  State and said that the dream of  Late Rajiv Gandhi was fulfilled due to the  implementation of 73rd amendment in the State Act. She asked Mahila workers to work hard to strengthen the role of women and ensure the participation of Mahila workers in the proposed convention of Mahila Congress in near future.
Ravinder Sharma,  chief spokesperson of PCC explained the struggle of Congress Party for the  implementation of 73rd amendment which has ensured reservation of women up to 33 % in the State. He termed it as land mark step in the field of women empowerment and said that the credit goes to the Congress party and its leadership.
Prominent among others who attended the meeting included  Santosh Sharma, Prabha Slathia, Sushma Choudhary, Suman Choudhary and Geeta Dogra.