Women in Gujarat aren’t safe: Anita Verma

“The situation of women in Gujarat is worse than in Delhi or any other city,” said Anita Verma, president of the All India Mahila Congress on Wednesday. Addressing the media, Verma spoke about the various issues faced by women under the rule of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Stressing on the need for change, she said that she had come to the city to address women’s issues.

In the state where Mahatma Gandhi’s principles on non-violence sprouted, the picture is totally different, Verma said. “In the land of Gandhi, crime cases are higher than even Delhi. Cases of rape, chain-snatching, attack on women, etc, are rampant in the state, making it unsafe for women,” she asserted, adding that the state is no more a haven for women and children.

Raising issues faced by people in Porbandar, she said that the drinking water problem in the area surprised her. “The way people were fetching drinking water in Porbandar was shocking,” Verma said. “When the Centre gives funds and has launched schemes, then why isn’t it reaching the poorest of the poor? Why are they deprived of basic facilities like water?”

Verma also took on the BJP government about the education scenario. “Class 10 dropouts are highest in Gujarat as compared to any other state,” she claimed. “While the government claims the state to be an education hub, why are there so many dropouts and how will such children’s future be?”