Odisha saw more female voters in the first phase of elections than in the second. According to data from the Election Commission of India, the first phase’s gender ratio in Odisha was 1030 female voters per 1000 males. In the second phase, the number dropped to 975 females per 1000 males. The second phase of the election in five Lok Sabha and 35 assembly segments will be conducted on Monday.
“Mostly tribal-dominated pockets of Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, and Berhampur cast their votes in the first phase, where the sex ratio is higher than other parts of the state. So is the number of women voters,” said social activist Sanjit Patnaik to a leading daily. Political analyst Surya Narayan Mishra, while talking to a national daily highlighted that the number of women voters has significantly increased over the years. He credited this to a rise in awareness among women and their participation in elections.
People in the know have said that more women voters support the BJD owing to its ‘Mission Shakti’ scheme. The Mission Shakti scheme is focused on empowering women financially by promoting women’s entrepreneurship through self-help groups. Women at the grassroots level have received financial help from several such schemes that are aimed at assisting them financially.
The BJP has also made a promise to launch women-centric schemes. It has also announced that women will receive Rs 50,000 in vouchers under the Subhadra scheme. Assurance has also been given by the BJP that there will be an increase in remuneration of Anganwadi workers along with better safety, healthcare, and education for women across the state. The INC faction has also promised that women will receive Rs 1 lakh cash along with various other schemes, if they win the election.
