Monday, May 2 2005 14:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A demand for making night duty for women optional by incorporating necessary amendments to the Factories Act, 1948 was made in Rajya Sabha today (May 2, 2005).

Raising the issue through a Special Mention, Congress member Kamla Manhar said that the Government should take adequate safety measures for protection of women in work place. She said that those women who were not interested in coming in night shifts should not be forced.

The member demanded constitution of a high-powered committee to safeguard the interest of women. Raju Parmar (Congress), demanded parting of allocation from Access Deficit Charges kitty for Fixed Lines Telephones by modifying the TRAI policy.

Vijay J Darda (Congress), expressed concern over involvement of 20,000 children in labour activities in Delhi. M M Agarwal (Congress), wanted employment-oriented education schemes and said that there could be no guarantee of jobs such as those in call centres.

V Narayanaswamy (Congress) said that there were cases of delay of three to six months in issuance or renewal of passports despite modernisation of regional passport offices.

He asked the External Affairs Ministry to provide new guidelines for issue of passports saying there was rampant corruption at present.