Seema Mittal, a doctorate in Science and post-grad in Management, says men have found it difficult to accept women at the helm and that mindset needs to change. Her views:
Women, the genesis of humanity have been fighting for their identity since ages. Different civilisations have across the planet treated them differently. It is usual to see women merely as the homemaker, the child-bearer or any role the male dominated society so perceives.
Despite competing and proving to be at par with the men, the opportunities for women in the public domain have always been limited. It has always been debated that women can never be at par with men due to innumerable limitations. And so, men have always found it difficult to accept women at the helm of affairs. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi herself being a woman never encouraged other women at any top position in politics and bureaucracy.
It has been the Modi government that acknowledged the need for reservation in order to increase women participation in politics as well as other fields. There are a lot of constituencies which are reserved for women both in the Lok Sabha as well as the Vidhan Sabha. The Modi government has initiated 33 percent reservation for women in the cabinet. That in itself is a huge change. Despite the fact that they could ensure only 10 percent representation as of now, I am hopeful that things are in the line of progress and more women leaders shall be at the forefront in the coming years.
It is the mindset that really needed to be changed and that is a step that the government has taken and long strides towards it shall soon become a reality. Maybe the women vote bank has invited political attention, I cannot say. But whatever the reason, I strongly feel that from not accepting women at the driving position to having them as major decision makers in the country is huge. They have proved to be the game changers. At least someone has risen above the party lines and made a sincere effort in this direction.
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The President of India is a woman who comes from a background that no government would have dared to appoint at such an esteemed position. Unfortunately, in the Lok Sabha elections this year, the women brigade of the government failed to win in a big way. But at least they fought their seats well and good.
Currently none of the Indian states have a woman chief minister though the ruling government has appointed a woman governor. There surely are challenges in giving coveted posts to women in the ministry. Reservation alone cannot increase women participation.
Families need to support women to come out boldly to accept these positions. They are still not encouraged by the family and are too bogged down by responsibilities at home to step out and prove their merit. Women must have financial support to enter politics. For this, they have to be financially independent or from a well to do family. There is a long way to go.
The entire mindset and system need a revamp to accept women at positions that have always been the man’s domain. I hope that in the coming years the glitches shall be removed and more deserving women shall be appointed justifying the reservation for women. It is not a myth but a reality taking shape.
The narrator started her career with Stock Holding Corporation, Mumbai, and now successfully runs an enterprise dealing in hearing aids
As told to Deepa Gupta
