The manifesto was very specific on the problems of women, children, dalits, adivasis, OBCs and other vulnerable sections of society. On women it included the following steps:

• Enacting the Women’s Reservation Bill to ensure one -third reservation for women in the legislatures

• Reversing the dilution of clauses in crimes against women made through recent amendments to the Cr Pc [The Code of Criminal Procedure]

• Providing credit at 4% interest rate to Self-Help Groups; providing training and assistance to SHGs to market their products

• Ensuring equal rights for women of all communities; making registration of marriages compulsory

• Undertaking as a National Mission the eradication of dowry and female foeticide

• Increasing allocation of resources for women in central budget; special employment schemes and pensions for widows; priority in Government schemes for female headed families