Sikkim: SDF accuses ruling SKM Govt of not doing anything for women’s empowerment

Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party today accused Prem Singh Tamang led Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government of not doing anything for women’s empowerment.

In a press conference held at party headquarters today by the party’s women wing said that during SDF tenure in government the women were given their rights whereas, the present SKM government has only given them ‘facilities’.

“Rights and facilities are two different things and giving facilities only to women does not make one empowered,“ said SDF Vice President and Former Minister Neeru Sewa.

She said that many schemes were passed to empower women during the SDF’s time, including those that granted women equal rights to ancestral property under the successor act, 30% reservation in government offices, and 50% reservation in Panchayati Raj and Municipal Councils. Whereas, only beneficiary schemes are given under the current government’s Aama Scheme, Bahini Scheme, and Vatsalya schemes.

She claimed that this merely makes women beneficiaries rather than empowered.

She also highlighted that during SDF time also many schemes were introduced for women.

Regarding the ongoing public meeting of the ruling SKM party at the constituency level, Sewa said, “SKM party workers and leaders are also manipulating the distribution of beneficiary schemes politically. They are informing the public that only women who participate in the program would be eligible for the Aama, Bahini, and Vatsalya schemes.”

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