New Delhi: Notwithstanding opposition
from a section within Congress on the proposed split of MCD,
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is trying to push the proposal
on the plank of giving more representation to women by
reserving 50 per cent seats to them in the civic agency.
Addressing a seminar at DPCC, Dikshit announced that
50 per cent seats will be reserved for women in the new set
up of MCD which will provide an excellent opportunity to the
fair sex to be part of the decision-making process.
The city government has taken an in-principle decision
to split the civic agency into five smaller bodies ahead of
next year`s municipal polls. The government also wants to
increase the number of wards from the current 272 to 408.
The proposal to split the MCD has been severely
criticised by a section of Congress and several Congress
leaders, at a meeting in DPCC on Tuesday openly slammed her
for not holding consultation within the party before taking
such an important decision.
However, unfazed by the criticism, Dikshit had said
she will go ahead with the proposal.
Noting that increased representation of women in civic
bodies will result in an improvement in civic facilities,
Dikshit said it will also enhance status of women as well as
their confidence level.
"The new set up of MCD will provide opportunity to
young and aspiring women to work on responsible position,"
she said addressing the seminar on `Role of Women in the
forthcoming MCD elections`.
Exhorting women activists of the party to get ready to
contest the elections, she asked them to work hard to ensure
that there is no shortage of eligible women contestants for
the upcoming polls.
"The women representatives will also be able to
contribute their part in making Delhi a world-class city," she
said.
Giving account of various schemes to ensure welfare of
women, Dikshit said the Government has decided to set up a
Women Technological University in Delhi.
Rajya Sabha members Chaudhary Virendra Singh, Mohsina
Kidwai and Prabha Thakur were among those present on the
occasion.
PTI
