**Bhubaneswar: ** Going by the voting trend and percentage in Odisha during the four-time tenure of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, it is a forgone conclusion drawn by the political analysts that women vote bank is deemed to be the decisive factor behind ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s stupendous victory in the general elections.
It is a fact that BJD icon and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik (fondly called Biju Babu) was the first ever regional satrap in the country in 1990s to have made 33% reservation for the women in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as a part and parcel of his commitment to women empowerment.
Later on his scion Naveen Patnaik enhanced it to 50%. Now he bats for 33% reservation for women in both the Parliament and State Legislatures.
After moving a resolution in the recently concluded Winter Session of Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) and getting it unanimously passed, Naveen Patnaik has even written letters to the Prime Minister and all the Chief Ministers. Being the supremo of BJD, he has already deputed his senior party leaders to meet all the national and regional parties in a bid to convince them so that the pending Women Reservation Bill gets passed in the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament. This move has been supported by AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
With the implementation of Mission Shakti in Odisha and formation of women self help groups (SHGs), it has now criss-crossed every nook and corner of the State, especially the rural areas where lies the bona fide vote bank of ruling BJD. Now there are lakhs of such SHGs across Odisha.
Recently, Naveen Patnaik during his government’s flagship programme ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash’ has declared that every Panchayat would have a Mission Shakti building as suggested by two rural women while he was interacting through video conference from the State Secretariat here.
Besides, the Odisha Chief Minister has also announced during the Make In Odisha Conclave 2018 held last month that smart phones to be provided to the SHGs so that it could keep the women abreast of the current global market and help in marketing their respective produce.
Prior to this, women have been assured more health benefits under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. While each male beneficiary of every family has been assured Rs 5 lakh healthcare benefits by the Naveen Patnaik Government, it has been augmented to Rs 7 lakh for each woman beneficiary.
Senior journalist and political observer Dilip Bisoi said, “It is a vital issue as women constitute 50% of the total voters in India. When their empowerment is mulled, it is about their economical empowerment and also political empowerment. For this reason, Biju Patnaik had effected 33% reservation in the local body elections. Later on, the Central Government realizing its importance had enacted the 33% reservation for women in all the local body elections nationwide.”
He viewed, “The women need to be empowered. In return if they support the party of the government championing their cause is a welcome step. The prime base of democracy is vote that is people’s power and in return of that vote they reap the benefits. Hence, there is nothing wrong if a party or State Government or Central Government tries to empower the women eying for their votes.”
“The move taken by the incumbent Odisha Government will have significant effect. From the past, the women have been a big vote bank of BJD. As the women votes constitute 50% of the total voters, no political party can ignore them,” observed the political expert.
Another senior journalist and political analyst Prabhu Kalyan Mohapatra said, “Whatever promises or announcements are made ahead of the election, be it the ruling party or the major parties, it is meant for influencing the voters. Accordingly, the announcements of programmes and schemes made by the State Government here are certainly aimed at wooing the women voters.”
He added, “Scores of programmes and schemes have been implemented by the Naveen Patnaik Government for the women’s development and empowerment. For example, hostels for five lakhs tribal girl students, SHGs for the women for which loan is provided at 1% interest, etc. Support from the women to the party will depend on the extent of benefits they reap from the programmes and schemes.”
“Such programmes and schemes announced before election is a usual political process for any party or government or administration. Any ruling party wishes to influence the voters. As the women are half of the total population, such initiatives are to garner the votes of the women,” the senior scribe commented.
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