File Photo: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with AAP leaders (PTI Photo)
To expand its reach, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today launched Women Trader's Wing which will work to resolve the problems faced by woman businesswoman and help to promote their business.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assured all support from Delhi government to the women entrepreneur while launching his party's women traders' wing.
"This is a big event as I am told that no political party has a women traders' cell. One of the reasons of not having it could be mindset of not seeing women as entrepreneurs. When women traders will unite and put political pressure it will have huge impact on Indian politics," Mr Kejriwal said while addressing over 250 women traders.
The Chief Minister asked women traders to send a list of their grievances so that government can formulate and initiate new schemes and policies for their benefit.
"On behalf of Delhi government, I want to assure women traders that all help will be given by us. We are on the same side of the table. Our motive is to promote trade and businesses in Delhi.
"Make a list of your problems and we will do everything possible from our end. We will change the law, administrative practice and bring new schemes for ease of doing business," he said.
Sharing his experience as activist Mr Kejriwal emphasised on involving women working in slums under AAP's trade wing.
"Earlier, I used to work at Sundar Nagari slums, where I noticed women engaged in small trades in each houses. Then somebody used to come one in a week from Sadar Bazaar and used to collect their production for further sale.
"They used to get a nominal account for their labour.
After working throughout the day they could only earn Rs25-30. Even they are entrepreneurs. We have to expand our gambit and include a women working in slums to big entrepreneur," he said.
During the launch program, a proposal of allowing women traders to work from residential address instead of commercial space was raised. "This move will benefit many working women and we will get it examined," he said.
Mr Kejriwal also said our motive should be to ensure that there is one women entrepreneur in each family. The move will not only make then self-sufficient but will also increase women security.
According to party officials, the decision to form women trade wing was taken during a meeting of Finance Minister Manish Sisodia with traders in the month of March, where he pointed out that out of 250 businessmen there was no woman.
So he proposed to form a women cell to give a platform to women entrepreneur to raise their concern.
Trade wing will have five members committee and district level coordinators.