Rahul meets Panchayat members for manifesto suggestions

Days after meeting women to take suggestions on preparing the Congress manifesto, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi met Panchayat members in Wardha in Maharashtra on Friday. Rahul took suggestions from Panchayat members on what needs to be included in the manifesto with respect to rural areas.
Addressing people ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Rahul referred to democracy as the most powerful and important weapon. He also said that the Congress will decide its candidates for the 15 Lok Sabha seats in the state based on the inputs from leaders of local bodies.
The villagers offered various suggestions to Rahul for Congress’s poll manifesto. While some asked for more power to Panchayat chair persons to reduce corruption, the others stressed on the need to centralise all Panchayat related work at one office.
Education, eradication of corruption and more power for women were the three important issues raised by most of the people at the meet.
The meet saw people coming in from various walks of life and various parts of India. A Congress worker from North East praised the party but blamed the government officials for not implementing many of its welfare schemes. A young woman Panchayat member from a village near Pakistan border in Rajasthan also suggested that educated people should run Panchayats.
Rahul is touring India to seek suggestions from people from all walks of life for the party manifesto. Earlier this week, he took part in a meeting of women’s representatives from various sections to be organised by All-India Mahila Congress in Bhopal. The meeting took place as a part of preparation of party’s manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
A number of prominent women and representatives of self-help groups also took part in the meeting. Rahul took the issue of gender inequality and promised to take up womens reservation. He said, “If women are empowered, she can bring the change. Every women is an asset in this country. We do not want to be a super power if we are not able to empower our women.”
Rahul said that the manifesto of the Congress party will have the suggestions of people. He said, “We will ask all sections of the society to give their suggestions for Congress manifesto. The sensible suggestions shall be incorporated and will be implemented when we form the government.”