She Leads: Politicians come together to train women to enter politics

A group of political leaders, including a former Governor and MPs, have come together with an NGO to train women to enter politics and run for office at state and national levels.

The programme 'She Leads' designed by StreeShakti-The Parallel Force is a virtual training programme of 35 hours spreading over seven days and already it is into the second batch.

Supported by Chevening Alumni Project Fund (CAPF) and conducted also in collaboration with the Indian School of Democracy, Netri and Shakti, the programme has seen future women leaders getting guidance from former Uttarkhand Governor and ex-Congress Union Minister Margaret Alva, former Congress MP Rajeev Gowda, BJP's Lok Sabha MP Heena Gavit and Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ghanshyam Tiwari.

"Women are more accessible and acceptable to the people in their constituency. Politics is a winnable arena for women," Alva said.

"We should rise above identity politics. The British policy of divide and rule should be rejected, based on caste we should not cast our vote," Gavit added.

The first batch has over 50 trainees from 13 states and the programme started on February 24 and is scheduled to culminate on March 8, International Women's Day.

The second batch programme started on Saturday and will have sessions by Prithvi Reddy (AAP) and Bandana Kumari (AAP) and former BJP MP Archana Chitnis.

With this first step, Sthree Shakti founder Rekha Mody said that 'She Leads' aims to start a journey for strengthening the political leadership of women in India.

"The next step will be to start certificate courses for young women in colleges and universities for them to consider politics as a career option. Delhi-based Miranda House is the first college to begin this certificate programme. The time has come for women to claim their political space. I hope women will aspire and lead the country," Mody said.