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The ‘Mahilayen-Yuva’ focus that helped Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan achieve electoral success took centre stage during his dialogue at NewsX’s We Women Want Conclave. Paswan, chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), argued that political parties should have done more to increase women’s representation by giving them greater opportunities and more tickets, saying that the need for reservation itself reflected the persistence of a patriarchal mindset among those in positions of power. Pointing out how the issue could have been fixed from within political parties, he said around 40 per cent of leadership roles in his party are being held by women even in the absence of a reservation law.
Paswan also expressed his strong resentment towards the very notion of women’s empowerment. Challenging the idea, he said, “I don’t know from where we get so much arrogance to say that we, the men, will empower women. On the contrary, they are the ones because of whom we exist.” Paswan highlighted the Modi government’s focus on ensuring that women get more opportunities for selfactualisation. Spotlighting the efforts of his ministry, he said that there are multiple schemes that give women a greater chance to reap benefits. He said, “There is Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, under which there are various components, one of which is promoting Self Help Groups and women working in them.”. He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, which has provisions aimed at promoting Self Help Groups and women working through them. He also pointed to the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, saying it had helped strengthen women’s entrepreneurial aspirations.