JAMMU: Adv. Purnima Sharma, Spokesperson BJP J&K and former Deputy Mayor of Jammu, today called upon the Omar Abdullah-led government to focus on women-oriented issues during the upcoming Budget session. Addressing media persons here, Purnima Sharma highlighted the commitments made by the National Conference (NC) to women during the Assembly polls, urging the government to translate those promises into actionable plans.
She criticized the NC for making tall claims about uplifting women but unfortunately no step has been taken by the Omar Govt in fulfilling the promises made with the women during the recent polls. She emphasized that the Budget session presents an ideal opportunity for the government to prove its sincerity towards women empowerment.
The senior BJP leader pointed out that the NC, in its poll manifesto, had promised to provide Rs 5,000 per month to female heads of economically weaker section (EWS) households, along with 12 free LPG cylinders per year to alleviate the burden of rising prices. She further reminded the government of its commitment to enhance the old age and widow pension to ₹3,000 per month, which would significantly support the most vulnerable sections of society.
Purnima Sharma also stressed the need to fulfill the promise of free public transport for women, describing it as a vital step to ensure their mobility and safety. She urged the government to increase the marriage assistance for EWS women from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, as pledged in the manifesto, to provide much-needed financial relief to struggling families.
The BJP leader further highlighted the assurance of raising the medical allowance for pensioners and family pensioners from the existing Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 per month, which she said must be implemented without delay.
She further called for the establishment of senior citizen homes in both Jammu and Srinagar, equipped with facilities for sports, recreation, reading, and writing, as committed by the NC. Additionally, she demanded that the government prioritize schemes aimed at providing financial assistance to women entrepreneurs and ensuring greater representation of women in governance and decision-making processes.
Expressing concern over the recent changes in qualifications for Anganwadi workers, Purnima Sharma termed them as a step backward and called for an immediate course correction to protect the interests of these workers. She criticized the government for ignoring the welfare of sanitation workers and their families, urging them to introduce comprehensive welfare schemes, including health insurance and safety training.
Purnima Sharma said that the women of J&K have been waiting for the government to fulfill its promises and that it is time for the NC to go beyond rhetoric and take substantial steps towards women empowerment and welfare. She reiterated BJP's commitment to holding the government accountable for its promises and assured that her party would continue to champion the cause of women's welfare in J&K.
