Parliament is the highest decision making body in the country, elected by more than a billion people (30-40% rarely participate though!!). When a step is taken to reserve a seat it means the people of the constituent are ‘forced’ to elect from this lot of candidates. So steps on reservations can be unconstitutional if not done with restrain. The move was hugely successful in case of SC and STs since the purpose was social inclusiveness of the community than individual representation. The class and caste handicap was overcome with institutional support. Being a communitarian step it also helps participation in mainstream development and so prevents alienation of the section.
This arguments on Reservations is however not entirely valid in case of Women. It is true that gender issues are beyond religion or caste to a substantial extend but there is no denying that it is very much hinged on Class. It is difficult to accept the argument that gender issues transcend class, atleast in Indian context these are different worlds. Economical and Social empowerment (through education) equips women from privileged class to handle bias, prejudices, harassments with certain certitude (Domestic violence act is needed support), further the privileges of this section also provides choices. This is not true for disempowered women of ‘lower classes’. Lack of economic means and societal discriminations only accentuate their problem (they have physical mobility in terms of going out but that is conditional and shouldn’t be mistaken for freedom). Here it is a case of dwindling choices. Providing gender reservation to this section, which constitute more than 70% of women population, will give unique opportunity in strengthening their voice.
It is not that such a provision doesn’t exist. The 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution creating Panchayati Raj and Municipalities provides for reservation of women. It has been an unprecedented success in many places. A step which definitely need to be emulated at national level. Reservation of women in Panchayats and urban bodies has brought the unique problems encounter by gender vis-à-vis water, sanitation and other social ills at the local level into focus. The issues women in these areas are deeply entrenched and affected; also they are the ones to take care of these issues as part of traditional biases. Not coincidently these are now defining global problems. With Corporatisation the weaker section are increasingly getting sidelined and women are the first to get affected. With depleting Natural resources women of weaker section are the one who get the first knock. Small informal groups do get created but it is important that women from this section get representation at the highest body.
Women’s bill if ever becomes a law need to include this section of women only. If the bill allows privileged women (balkatti is just an expression but it does carry the apprehensions and insecurities of the weaker section) then it will be unconstitutional since there is no provision based on gender in the constitution. Further it is very much possible for a male to voice the issues of gender. The problems of socially and economically weaker women particularly in villages are unique. Though gender is defining factor their problems are very much enmeshed and determined by local socio-environmental factors too. Further due to socio-cultural reasons their voices are very much suppressed. In participative democracy these are the voices which need representation at the highest level.
The women’s reservation bill in present form is dangerously biased and unconstitutional. It needs modification to keep out the privileged section that is using gender as means to consolidate themselves. There are many who are squatting around the power centers in all the capital cities, some very media savvy are found in all photo ops and TV studios, looking for short cuts and women’s bill is just the antidote. There is nothing wrong in their behavior off course it is entertaining but they shouldn’t be allowed to use gender angst for lateral entry. Women of privilege section may not be aware of the problems faced by millions of women in socio-economically weaker sections in small towns and villages (offcourse there are exceptions but believe me these are not the kind who will use the benefits of women’s bill). The bill in the modified form will have stop women dalals from power consolidation; at the most they can play the role of pressure groups.
The suggestion by this Blogger on modification of Women’s bill: Yes women’s reservation in the parliament is a step whose time has come. The above mentioned apprehensions will be satisfied if the reservation of women into Lok Sabha is restricted to those who have proven their competence and credibility in local bodies that is, Panchayats and Municipalities for atleast a term. A period of five years at local body with a minimum attendance of seventy percent (as a safeguard) in their meetings should be the criteria for claim to lok sabha under women’s reservation. Here I give two examples of women who have excelled through local bodies. One is PK Sreemathy Teacher who was a panch
ayat president, now a minister and another is Mumtaz Begum the Bangalore Mayor. These are the kind of people who should benefit from Women Reservati
on bill and need be in the parliament.
This arguments on Reservations is however not entirely valid in case of Women. It is true that gender issues are beyond religion or caste to a substantial extend but there is no denying that it is very much hinged on Class. It is difficult to accept the argument that gender issues transcend class, atleast in Indian context these are different worlds. Economical and Social empowerment (through education) equips women from privileged class to handle bias, prejudices, harassments with certain certitude (Domestic violence act is needed support), further the privileges of this section also provides choices. This is not true for disempowered women of ‘lower classes’. Lack of economic means and societal discriminations only accentuate their problem (they have physical mobility in terms of going out but that is conditional and shouldn’t be mistaken for freedom). Here it is a case of dwindling choices. Providing gender reservation to this section, which constitute more than 70% of women population, will give unique opportunity in strengthening their voice.
It is not that such a provision doesn’t exist. The 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution creating Panchayati Raj and Municipalities provides for reservation of women. It has been an unprecedented success in many places. A step which definitely need to be emulated at national level. Reservation of women in Panchayats and urban bodies has brought the unique problems encounter by gender vis-à-vis water, sanitation and other social ills at the local level into focus. The issues women in these areas are deeply entrenched and affected; also they are the ones to take care of these issues as part of traditional biases. Not coincidently these are now defining global problems. With Corporatisation the weaker section are increasingly getting sidelined and women are the first to get affected. With depleting Natural resources women of weaker section are the one who get the first knock. Small informal groups do get created but it is important that women from this section get representation at the highest body.
Women’s bill if ever becomes a law need to include this section of women only. If the bill allows privileged women (balkatti is just an expression but it does carry the apprehensions and insecurities of the weaker section) then it will be unconstitutional since there is no provision based on gender in the constitution. Further it is very much possible for a male to voice the issues of gender. The problems of socially and economically weaker women particularly in villages are unique. Though gender is defining factor their problems are very much enmeshed and determined by local socio-environmental factors too. Further due to socio-cultural reasons their voices are very much suppressed. In participative democracy these are the voices which need representation at the highest level.
The women’s reservation bill in present form is dangerously biased and unconstitutional. It needs modification to keep out the privileged section that is using gender as means to consolidate themselves. There are many who are squatting around the power centers in all the capital cities, some very media savvy are found in all photo ops and TV studios, looking for short cuts and women’s bill is just the antidote. There is nothing wrong in their behavior off course it is entertaining but they shouldn’t be allowed to use gender angst for lateral entry. Women of privilege section may not be aware of the problems faced by millions of women in socio-economically weaker sections in small towns and villages (offcourse there are exceptions but believe me these are not the kind who will use the benefits of women’s bill). The bill in the modified form will have stop women dalals from power consolidation; at the most they can play the role of pressure groups.
The suggestion by this Blogger on modification of Women’s bill: Yes women’s reservation in the parliament is a step whose time has come. The above mentioned apprehensions will be satisfied if the reservation of women into Lok Sabha is restricted to those who have proven their competence and credibility in local bodies that is, Panchayats and Municipalities for atleast a term. A period of five years at local body with a minimum attendance of seventy percent (as a safeguard) in their meetings should be the criteria for claim to lok sabha under women’s reservation. Here I give two examples of women who have excelled through local bodies. One is PK Sreemathy Teacher who was a panch
ayat president, now a minister and another is Mumtaz Begum the Bangalore Mayor. These are the kind of people who should benefit from Women Reservati
on bill and need be in the parliament.
