Sonia Gandhi wants to ensure adequate women empowerment

'Desh ki mahilaon ka samman, baad mein Bharat Nirman' is the slogan the Congress party plans to raise in the Jaipur summit demanding 50 per cent job quota for women. At the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, some senior party leaders are expected to ask the government to explore the possibility of providing 50 per cent reservation for women in government and private jobs, apart from making another effort to push through the contentious women's quota Bill.

Coming a month after the brutal gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in the national Capital that shocked the conscience of the nation, the Congress 's upcoming chintan shibir (brainstorming session) in Jaipur is set to give top billing to "women empowerment". The party brass believes that concrete, long-term "economic and legislative" steps, instead of knee-jerk reactions or piece-meal measures, will go a long way in real empowerment of women.

The mood in the Congress is summed up by the fact that party managers have coined a new slogan: "Desh ki mahilaon ka samman, baad mein Bharat Nirman"(the honour of the country's women first, then Bharat Nirman).

A resolution is likely to be moved suggesting that the government adopt this slogan. "Bharat Nirman may be a flagship programmer  but we want to emphasis our sensitivity to women and the problems being faced by them," a senior leader said. Sources said Sonia Gandhi's speech is expected to forcefully stress the need for major steps for women's empowerment.

The meet is also expected to direct all Congress chief ministers to give top priority to issues concerning women and fast-track measures for their uplift. It is for the first time the party has set up a committee to study gender issues and suggest solutions for a brainstorming session.

The party will also have a detailed discussion on the political challenges and alliances. Congress party wants the existing UPA set-up at the Centre to continue while remaining flexible in other states, except West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

The party's aam admi-focussed schemes such as Direct Benefits Transfer, Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition and Dalit rights will also be discussed in detail.

Besides, Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi will also address the shivir beginning Friday.