Women in Karnataka, does manifesto talk about security?
What's the story
With increasing crimes against women, both BJP and Congress in Karnataka have promised to take substantial steps, but the execution as always, should raise our eyebrows.
The BJP claims to address the issue by establishing a "Special Investigation Cell" with 1,000 women officers who will investigate pending cases.
On the same lines, Congress will enact a law to award life sentence to convicted rape criminals.
Low literacy rate
Education for women: BJP missed the spot
Karnataka is home to over 3 crore women. With low sex ratio of 973 and even lower literacy rate (56%) compared to men (76%), concrete steps in education is a major voting factor for the Kannadigas.
Free smartphones are worthless for uneducated women.
Unfortunately, BJP's manifesto has nothing substantial, but Congress has listed free education to girls upto post-graduation, as one of their promises.
Reality check
Entrepreneurship: Do women get their share?
Propagating entrepreneurship, BJP has proposed loans upto Rs. 2 Lakh to women's self-help groups at a meagre 1% interest. No such proposal was listed by the Congress.
That said, within 5 years, Congress has committed to establishing 5,000 micro-enterprises and also promised to skill 1,000 women/year.
BJP will also set up "Stree Unnati Fund" worth Rs. 10,000 cr for marking products through women run co-operatives.
Significant steps
Reservation and Freebies
Every election has its freebies, this time the Congress and BJP have some common ones.
Both parties have promised free sanitary napkins and smartphones to poor women.
On reservation, the BJP will push for 50% women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, while the Congress is giving 50% employment to women in the government workforce.
Congress also ensured 5% reservation for transgenders in police work force.