The BJP women’s wing asked its workers to invite women from the Scheduled Caste community to their homes for food.
In line with the BJP’s efforts to maximize its electoral gains in seats dominated by the SC community in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP Mahila Morcha President Vanathi Srinivasan said the party’s outreach to women voters will keep social inclusion at the center of its programs .
Earlier this month, it asked its over 8,000 workers to invite women from Scheduled Caste families to their homes and have meals together.
Under the Samarsata Anna (Harmonious Food) programme, which was launched as part of the celebration of the Social Justice Week from the BJP’s foundation day on April 6 to BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14, the party’s women’s wing distributed 8,444 such ” Organized “Meal Sharing” events across the country.
Under the programme, 73,597 Scheduled Caste women were invited by BJP Mahila Morcha workers to their homes for food.
The highest participation was seen in Uttar Pradesh where around 18,000 women from various scheduled caste communities were made a part of these events.
Women’s efforts in this area can be transformative, Ms. Srinivasan said, adding that changing women’s attitudes when it comes to addressing caste discrimination can be a turning point in promoting social integration.
“And that includes the kitchen. When we talk to men about social inclusion or shared meals, there’s only so much they can do. But women can change the way families think, and with other women Building strong relationships can make such efforts sustainable.” and helping them deal with their everyday challenges,” she said.
Over the years, the BJP has been carefully building social alliances involving various castes and sub-castes, creating what political thinkers such as author Badri Narayan have called ‘holistic Hindutva’, working to integrate OBCs and SCs within Hindutva. Does not only welfare schemes but also symbolic steps.
In 2014, the BJP won 40 SC and 26 ST seats – the highest number of reserved seats won by any major party since 1991. The number increased to eight more in 2019, making it clear that the party not only managed to retain itself. The support base was built up in 2014, but also expanded into social groups that traditionally voted differently.
“We have always seen such outreach efforts in slums where party workers visit homes of SC communities and eat. But these efforts are strengthened when families, especially women, share their kitchen and dining area with those belonging to lower castes. Women have a lot to say in these matters,” Ms. Srinivasan said.
He said that during the planning of these programmes, the workers were strictly informed that none of these programs should be conducted in marriage halls or community centers but in homes and family members were also encouraged to be a part of it. should be done.
“Many of them were not easy to persuade, but in many cases we found that the children and young people in the household encouraged their mothers to do so,” he said.
The party is also planning to set up a rigorous training module to reach out to the families of its women workers and help them avail benefits of government schemes. These trained women will form a network of “Kamal Mitras”, who are likely to play a key role in the party’s Lok Sabha election campaign.
“We are hoping to train at least one lakh women employees in the next few months to help facilitate and spread awareness about the Prime Minister’s schemes. Each of them will be trained through a 15-hour training module. must pass through and obtain a certificate before his arrival.” Work. Kamal Mitra will not only help spread the PM’s message but also help people get benefits without running around,” Ms. Srinivasan said.
‘Alliance with AIADMK important for 2024’
BJP MLA from Coimbatore (South) Ms. Srinivasan also spoke about the speculation on the continuation of the BJP-AIADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 elections.
Recently, AIADMK leaders led by party general secretary E Palaniswami met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. Ms Srinivasan said the alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP in Tamil Nadu was crucial to achieving the BJP’s national vision.
“This is not a fight between individuals or individual parties. The UPA alliance is intact in Tamil Nadu, and we need many hands to counter it. We need to send more MPs from here, and from the very beginning, BJP have political alliances.” With parties that may not fully agree with it. National interest is paramount for us.”
She said the women of Tamil Nadu, who were with former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, an inspirational leader, wished they could come back. He added, “…that’s why I am sure they will rally behind PM Modi. The women of the state have never liked the DMK and the party has only promoted women with political connections.”
In Karnataka, which goes to polls on May 10 and where the BJP is facing an aggressive Congress, Ms. Srinivasan said women voters’ trust in the PM would help the party. All the three major parties in Karnataka – BJP, Congress and JD(S) have fielded less than 7 per cent women candidates in their respective lists.
“Definitely, there is a need for more participation of women in politics. I keep telling women to increase their chances of winning. It is easy to connect with the poor through Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana or e-labour or grassroots workers And it won’t take a lot of resources. We as women have to find ways to get ahead in our work,” Ms. Srinivasan said.