Wednesday, October 17, 2007

India's first women political party launched

Touted as the country's first political party formed by women, the 'United Women Front' (UWF) was launched here on Tuesday. The party, though has been formed by women, is for all the citizens of India, said Suman Krishan Kant, UWF President and wife of former Vice President Krishan Kant.

The party was registered with the Election Commission last month, she added. "Women in the country are discriminated against and are insecure. And through this front we want to ensure that the issues of priority concerning half the country's population come to the forefront in India's national agenda," Kant said.

She said despite having the second highest population in the world, of which women constitute 50 per cent, the average representation of women in Parliament is a dismal low of just 8.8 per cent.

"The UWF will soon hold its executive body meeting to finalise the agenda and policies of the party. We are focusing on Parliament elections scheduled to be held in 2009," Kant said.

The party has already opened its regional offices in 12 states, including Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana and the Northeast states and has so far enrolled 200 women in various districts.

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14544130

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