DH Forum
Women’s quota in legislature
Is the Women's Reservation Bill doomed? Actually, many of our readers feel
exactly so. Most are of the opinion that the attempt to arrive at a political
consensus on the Bill is just a ploy to delay its passage. While some say that
the delay is due to the lack of commitment on the part of the leaders, others
attribute it to their double standards. There are also a few who call for a
fight for their right, while some say the field is not meant for women.
No commitment
One of the treacherous and deceitful mechanisms employed by political parties to
hoodwink women aspirants to spend a major portion of their time in Lok Sabha and
Legislative Assemblies is women?s quota. For nearly a decade, it is an annual
ritual to raise the issue, debate it, produce heart, cool down and forget. Elite
women are well organised to lay their demand. But men politicians, are reluctant
to part with or even share political power with women. No political party is
genuinely committed. No party denies the requirement. Some parties are vocal,
some silent and some dubious.
Thus these extra-considerations will create frictions, tensions and conflicts
among various political parties. The result is that women?s Reservation Bill
will be in cold storage and doomed.
Mumtaz Ali Khan
Give their due
Behind every successful man there is a woman. By denying 33%, men want their
women to be behind them, always. Thus the Bill is cunningly kept on the back
burner under the guise of not arriving at a consensus between various political
forces. Cases of rape, assault, and exploitation of women are on the rise. These
problems can effectively be addressed by women leaders through their entry into
policy making positions. But there is a dearth of daring women who can man the
public offices in our country.
Women should assert that they cannot be taken for granted and the cunning ploy
that there is no political consensus will not hold water anymore.
M Vasanth Kumar
Male dominated
Women's Bill seems to be entangled in the web of male dominated politics. The
inability to reach a consensus is a clear indication of lack of commitment and
political will on the side of major political parties. In a way this is one of
the tactics adopted by them just to delay it?s passage. Why is there a delay
when the Congress, BJP, and the Left parties say that they support the Bill in
its original form? Demand for sub-quota by some parties is a clear indication
that this Bill will never take off.
Inamdar Ramachandra
Ill-conceived The Bill is ill conceived! Why allow politics to percolate into
the homes and cause unnecessary friction and breakups? We have enough politics
causing all kinds of damages as of now! India should be proud of its close and
affectionate family bondage. The primary duty of the women is to uphold the
family unit and its values. Of course, whenever there has been a requirement for
the women to rule, they have risen to the occasion and excelled. Noor Jehan,
Abbakka, Chennamma, Jhansi Lakshmi Bai, Indira Gandhi and now Sonia Gandhi are
examples. Therefore, there is no need to virtually tempt them to enter politics.
S R Devaprakash
Incredulous
Male dominance exists in the world since time immemorial. Even in the animal
kingdom it is the same. Man does not want to give up his power to the other sex,
be it in the house, in the office or in any other field. In this country where a
female is killed in the womb, how can one expect the Women?s Reservation Bill to
be passed? It is definitely to be doomed. The attempt to arrive at a political
consensus on the Bill is only a ploy and a lip service to drag on the bill for
ever.
Mandikal Ananda Rao
Art of obfuscation
Consensus is a capricious connotation complicated enough to confuse and delay
the passing of the Bill. Politicians in power are not at all sincere in
providing equality to women or empowering them, leave alone a worthy place in
the men?s bastion. Article 15 (3) of the Constitution confers powers for making
special provisions for women and children, but in respect of reservation in the
House, men are not willing to give up their chauvinism. The senseless
procrastination is a proof of hostility to postpone it by hook or crook. Men
politicians sabotage it because they do not want to share power. U S Iyer Just a
tamasha
It has been on the cards for quite some now. It is not clear why attempt is
being made to arrive at a political consensus of such a diverse group and why it
is dragging on for so long ? it is just a ploy to delay the passage of the Bill.
If all the parties sincerely believe that there should be 33% reservation for
women, they should allocate these seats while declaring their candidates. Why
should there be a bill for reservation? It is just a tamasha enacted by all the
parties to hoodwink the public. Further there should not be any increase in the
number of seats on account of reservation.
S K Jadhav
Double standards
The political parties unanimously opposed the Supreme Court ruling on admissions
to professional colleges. They want to bring legislation immediately to counter
the judgment as they feel it will fetch them votes. But the very same people
will not permit women?s reservation as it may not benefit them anyway. In this
male dominated society it seems it requires some more time. The real reason
behind this opposition is that by bringing this legislation, substantial number
of male MPs will lose their position in the coming years.
Swarna Latha R
Consensus ploy
It is an irony that in a country where women constitute 49.67% of its population
and where they have equal rights constitutionally, even 33% reservation in
legislature and parliament is simply ignored. Over the period we have seen that
both ruling and opposition parties lack the willingness to pass the Bill. Women
are competent in any field in India. But the ploy of consensus is derailing the
process of getting the Bill passed.
Rajinder Kaur
Political gimmick
Women?s issues have a history of being skirted conveniently by selfish
politicians who are more interested in feathering their own nests. Social
equality and political principles are mere vote getting gimmicks. In reality men
would want women only in the home and hearth and as such the fate of the Bill
hangs in the balance. Why are politicians (read men) so insecure? What is the
meaning of reservation within reservation? Is it not a ploy to delay and if
possible to sweep the Bill under the carpet? Women down the ages have balked at
such injustice and have broken free from the traditional mould to prove their
potential. Let them bring in pressure from all quarters, generate public opinion
and push the Bill with a vengeance.
Kaveri Chinnappa
Unlikely
No doubt, the attempt to arrive at a political consensus on Women?s Reservation
Bill is just a ploy to delay its passage. Evolving of consensus may be
imperative in order to get the cooperation from everybody in its implementation
successfully, but in the present circumstances, it seems unlikely to be
achieved. It is evident that the women have been at the hub of politics and have
done exemplary work and hence, there should not be any reason to create hurdles
for introducing the Bill in its original form and pass the same in the current
session of Parliament.
Rajiv Goel
Share it equally
The woman?s reservation bill is a fraud played by the political parties to
brow-beat the ?city bred? women who have been clamouring for reservation.
Political parties will not support this unless they are assured of reservation
based on caste, religion and what not. Women should know that reservation will
only bring in incompetent women into politics.The best is that they should
demand equal share and get a seat for whoever is competent. Women should not
vote for parties which don?t give a share for every competent woman. Why demand
reservation and be second class?
P Tauro
Onus on parties
The governments and the political parties dilly-dallying the issue of women?s
quota in legislatures is a clear indication of their insincerity in the matter.
The ruling coalitions find it convenient to take refuge in the consensus theory
which everybody knows would never become a reality. The best course for any
political party to prove its sincerity in the matter is to take a decision at
the party level and to implement it instead of waiting for any consensus or a
bill to be passed in the parliament. In fact, such a step should be more
meaningful than being thrust upon by legal measures.
K K Cherian
Big business
Everyone knows that in India, politics is a big business. Hence, it is male
dominated. Some parties have gone to the extent of suggesting that the strength
of the Lok Sabha be increased by 300 and then provide reservation of 33% for
women! This is somewhat like a sale in a Department Store. The store increases
the prices by 100% and then offers a ?great discount of 50%?! It is a pity that
there is no unity amongst the present women legislatures.
Tara Devi
Percentage game
Nobody is against reservation of seats for women in the Parliament or
Legislatures. The problem is over the proclaimed thirty percentage of seats.
Male chauvinism has dominated political and bureaucratic fields for ages; and
this pronounced percentage cannot be gulped down by them, as they know too well
that these seats are pregnant with power and pelf. India is not fully
Europeanised or Americanised; wherein women can wrest the seats anywhere by
merit. And so, the political game goes on and on ? with the Bill doomed to go
into the waste-paper bin. If one does want to give room for women, one does not
need a legislation! The men do not have a legislation for them!
S S Ramanatha Rao
EXPERT OPINION
Women should be wary of the sectarian snare
By Hemalata Mahishi
It is nobody?s baby. A girl child. Not wanted by anyone, yet revered in public
as Lakshmi. Avoided at the stage of conception itself and bound to be aborted in
foetal stage after sex detection! Our country boasts of countless Shakti Devis.
We love to build temples and offer poojas to them. We shout from rooftops that
as a part of our culture, we honour and respect women in our society. It is
perfectly in accordance with Manu?s saying that gods reside where women are
honoured. Women are pure. We want to preserve their purity by not exposing them
to outside dirt and horror.
I am reminded of an article written by G Gurumurthy in The Indian Express
sometime back during one of those periodic rituals of the tabling of the Women?s
Reservation Bill in Parliament. He opined that our political system has become
dirty due to criminalisation, casteism, money power etc and our women should not
think of entering this field, polluting themselves in the process, in their own
interest and that of our great country. Of course, Manu said that (Hindu) women
need protection, by father when she is young, by husband when she is married and
by son when she is old, as she is unfit to have and enjoy freedom. Fatwas are
issued to the effect that Muslim women should not fight the election as she
cannot mingle with other males, even if she stands as a candidate she should
cover her body and even if she is elected only her husband can function on her
behalf.
I do remember the day when our great socialist leaders Sharad Yadav, Mulayam
Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav with their shouting brigade plunged
Parliament in chaos by not allowing even the placing of the Women?s Reservation
Bill on the table of the House and any discussion on it. Sharad Yadav?s anxiety
to prevent ?Bal kati Mahilaye? from entering Parliament is understandable.
Persons with this mindset fear educated, efficient, independent women asserting
their identity and showing eagerness to prove their mettle. They want docile and
ever-obedient women obliging their masters. Madam Mayawati finds manuwadis only
in upper castes. But there are manuwadis in all castes and communities.
Women are tired of seeing this drama for nearly a decade now. These manuwadis
fear losing their constituencies to such 21st century women. They do not mind
their wives and daughters replacing them. Laloo willingly and voluntarily hands
over the Bihar Chief Minister?s gaddi to his beloved wife as he very well knows
that he is the real king there. There lies the hypocrisy and the real dilemma of
our great leaders. They do not want to be marginalised by real women leaders.
Reservation for women in local bodies can be tolerated and even flaunted as a
proof of their pro-women policy. But it cannot be extended to higher bodies
where real power is concentrated like in Parliament and state legislatures. In
the guise of consensus, the Bill?s introduction in Parliament is being postponed
year after year. All political parties who pretend to support this Bill barring
Communist parties, are afraid of being exposed and their whip being violated
during discussion and voting on this Bill.
The Communist parties do not want to play OBC and minority cards for their
politics. Even the BJP, bent upon holding its Hindutva intact, seems to have
changed its policy this time, with Uma Bharati openly supporting sub-reservation
for OBCs. Muslim MPs are not lagging behind in demanding sub-reservation for
Muslim women. All these clamouring will only ensure that the Bill will not even
be introduced.
Why this clamour for sub-reservation only in women?s quota? Are they ready to
extend the same principle to the rest of 67 per cent seats? Even if there is no
sub-quota at present, is not the arithmetic of castes and minority votes in a
particular constituency the decisive and deciding factor in the selection of
candidates even now? Why do they clamour for sub-quotas when the selection of
candidates and ticket distribution are in their own hands? No one cares even if
Laloo or Mulayam select all their women candidates from OBCs and minority
communities to represent their parties. Already our society is deeply divided on
the basis of castes and communities. At least leave the women alone to consider
themselves as belonging to a single class of women. We want women to be leaders
in their own right. We do not want to see them as caste leaders or community
leaders fighting only for their limited cause. So far women?s movement has taken
up the cause of women in general, women as a class. Women should be wary of
divisive forces and issues so as to retain their identity and independence.
Madam Jayalalitha?s suggestion of dual membership (sans sub-quota ) can be
considered if it assuages the sense of insecurity among male politicians. Anyhow
both Houses of Parliament always look deserted and they can accommodate another
1/3rd members. But, at what cost! Whether our economy can support it? The
suggestion that political parties compulsorily provide 1/3rd tickets to women
candidates may end up in leaving all unwanted and non-winnable seats to women!
In that case, there will not be any clamour for sub-quota. Some parties may even
find it difficult to get women candidates. Till women become a political force
and become a part of vote politics this farce will continue.
In the meanwhile, can we expect the political parties in power to appoint 1/3rd
women to statutory bodies like the Legislative Councils which is in their hands
and where no consensus is required, to prove their bona fides! (Hemalata Mahishi
is a Bangalore-based advocate)
[Deccan Herald, Sunday, August 28 , 2005]
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug282005/dhforum.asp