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PM Modi Story By: Anandiben Patel
As Indian Parliament passes historic bill for Women’s Reservation, providing equal opportunities for women has always been a highlight of Shri Narendra Modi’s style of working.
Even in 90’s as Sangathan Mantri of Gujarat BJP, Shri Modi appointed women on important positions which were otherwise not reserved for women.
Smt. Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh narrates few such anecdotes where Shri Modi took bold decisions to promote women at different times.
She recalls an incident in Mehsana where Shri Modi had decided to field a woman candidate to represent that Lok Sabha constituency. Shri Modi had then denied to approve the candidates list because there were no women candidates included in it.
Even in 90’s as Sangathan Mantri of Gujarat BJP, Shri Modi appointed women on important positions which were otherwise not reserved for women
Later Shri Modi himself declared the name of Smt. Jayshreeben Patel and asked the party workers to make sure that she wins. Smt. Patel won twice and represented Mehsana constituency in Lok Sabha.
In another incident, when Smt. Anandiben Patel was president of Gujarat BJP’s women wing, she had to face several questions when she returned after a meeting in Kutch. Shri Modi asked her about how many women were present in the meeting, their profile like family background and education. He also enquired about their working status.
On asking why Shri Modi was asking all this, he replied that if women from different sectors would participate in the meeting it would provide an insight into the grassroots of the problems that they face. He gave example of women from Kisan family narrating their problems, similarly doctors and nurses and other working women.
He wanted to know all these problems so that when BJP comes to power, the party will be able to address these problems and try to solve them.
Shri Narendra Modi was very particular about providing women with responsibilities.
Smt. Anandiben shares another anecdote where Shri Modi had made it mandatory that at least one woman is to be given a responsibility in the District and Taluka Padadhikari. Similarly, there was no reservation in the Panchayat and Municipal elections apart from the mayor. So, even in that Shri Modi made it compulsory for a woman to be either a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, or a standing committee chairman and also said that without this criterion the Samiti would not be accepted.