Tag: Women Reservation in Legislature

‘Women Reservation Bill Must Not Be Reduced To Mere Tokenism’

By LokMarg

Soma Mazumdar, a seasoned school teacher in Greater Noida West, says we must demand concrete actions on gender justice from our leaders. Her views:

I have always been passionate about educating young minds on the values of equality, justice, and democracy. Over the years, one issue that has consistently grabbed my attention is the Women Reservation Bill. This proposed legislation has been a subject of extensive debate and discussion in our country, and I often find myself pondering whether it’s a sincere effort for gender justice or merely a political gimmick.

The Women Reservation Bill, first introduced in the Indian Parliament in 1996, aims to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) and State Legislative Assemblies for women. The rationale behind this bill is to address the glaring gender disparity in the Indian political landscape, where women continue to be underrepresented. On the surface, this appears to be a noble initiative towards gender justice. After all, shouldn’t our democracy reflect the diversity and aspirations of our entire population?

However, as a teacher and a citizen who closely follows the political developments of our nation, I cannot help but question the sincerity of this effort. While the bill has been repeatedly tabled in Parliament, it has faced consistent roadblocks and remains un-implemented to this day. This raises a critical question: Is the bill a genuine attempt to empower women politically, or is it merely a tool for political parties to score points with female voters?

One cannot deny the inherent challenges in passing the Women Reservation Bill. Indian politics is marked by deep-rooted patriarchy and resistance to change, making it difficult to secure consensus on such transformative legislation. Yet, this should not be an excuse for the continued delay in its implementation. The lack of progress suggests that some politicians may view this issue as a convenient tool to make promises during elections rather than a genuine commitment to gender justice.

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Moreover, it is disheartening to witness the tokenism that often accompanies discussions about the bill. Women’s representation in politics should not be reduced to a mere numbers game. It should be about empowering women to participate in decision-making processes, contribute their perspectives, and influence policies that affect our nation. Reservation alone cannot ensure this; it requires a broader cultural shift in our society’s attitudes towards women in leadership roles.

Another aspect that raises doubts about the sincerity of the Women Reservation Bill is the absence of comprehensive support systems for women in politics. To truly empower women in politics, we need initiatives that address the challenges they face, such as gender-based violence, lack of resources, and societal expectations. Passing the bill without creating a conducive environment for women to thrive in politics would be akin to putting the cart before the horse.

Additionally, the Women Reservation Bill’s periodic reintroduction and subsequent shelving have created a sense of disillusionment among the citizens, especially women who have been waiting for meaningful change. It’s important to recognize that political gimmickry can erode trust in the democratic process itself.

As an academic, I believe that education plays a pivotal role in shaping the values and perspectives of our future leaders. It is our responsibility to teach our students about the importance of gender equality and the need for sincere efforts to achieve it. We must encourage them to critically assess the actions of their elected representatives and demand accountability.

In a nutshell, while the Women Reservation Bill may have started with noble intentions, its repeated failure to pass and the lack of complementary measures raise doubts about its sincerity. As a society, we must hold our leaders accountable and demand concrete actions that promote gender justice, not just empty promises. Only then can we truly bridge the gender gap in our political landscape and create a more inclusive and equitable democracy.

As told to Deepti Sharma

‘Reservation Bill Will Ensure Equal Opportunities For My Daughters in Every Sphere’

By LokMarg

Charu Garg, a Chartered Accountant working with an international corporate group in Bengaluru, thanks parliamentarians for the passage of Nari Shakti Vandan bill. Her views:

First of all, I would like to applaud our law makers to pass this very important ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) in both house of Parliament so that it can become a law. I firmly believe that this bill will lead the way towards nation building at this very historical juncture in our journey as a nation.

Women form half of the world’s population and are supposed to be the key decision makers and stakeholders in the nation building process and progress. It is undeniable and established sufficiently with facts and figures that forums where women have been given equal opportunities and better representation are more progressive and deliver far better results. We have a good example of this in the Indian Panchayat system where we have done quite well in terms of having women representatives in the system; hence better administration for many years now. We find better governance, greater social upliftment, lesser crime and faster problem solving in most of these villages where women are leading the way.

I come from the corporate world and have worked for over two decades in this sphere where diversity and inclusion are considered a business initiative rather than a social initiative. The idea is to have diverse perspectives and brainstorming which result in enhanced idea generation and more effective decision making leading to more profitable businesses.

If we are leaving out half of the total population from participation in key policy decision making platforms, then, I believe we are missing on some very important viewpoints which impact not just these 50% of the people but also the lives of other family members around them as women are the primary care givers and housekeepers in the Indian context.

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We can take the example from our household where both mother and father are the primary decision makers in that small unit for it to work efficiently. Likewise, having one third of women reservation in the parliament would be the right step in the direction to make our upper house, lower house and state legislations more diverse and more efficient.

In the recently concluded G20 summit under the leadership of Bharat, we have shown the way to the rest of world to focus on women-led development rather than women development and this bill is the only right step towards focusing on women empowerment and women led development.

I have two grown-up daughters who are still studying and as a mother I would want for them to have equal opportunity in all spheres of life; education, work and for our state and national policies to be such that it gives them the choice and the strength to lead life on their own terms. With 33% representation of women in the parliament they can be sure to have their voice heard, their interest safe-guarded and their wants prioritized. Reservation in higher education has increased the opportunities for women and the industry is not complaining. Infact, welcoming these women in work force with open arms, I am assuming that passing of this bill will also have the same impact on our society and nation.

I would like to conclude that women have been denied their rights for many generations and many centuries and now is the time when we can correct past mistakes and if reservation for women in various levels of governance is what it takes to empower them right back, then that is the need of the hour. We should support this fully and come together to form a stronger, vibrant and inclusive nation.

As told to Deepa Gupta

‘Reservation Bill is First Step Towards Gender Justice & Equality’

By LokMarg

Shweta Agarwal, a Chartered Accountant based in Lucknow, says the women’s reservation law will lead to an environment of gender equality for coming generations. Her views:

In Hindu scriptures and belief-system, a woman symbolizes Shakti or cosmic energy. According to Indic theological discourse, judicious use of this Shakti manifests an all-round welfare of mankind. A society cannot be successful unless women have a strong voice and effective participation. It is in this light that I consider the Naari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak (Womens’ Reservation Bill) as a historic step.

However, the fact that it took several decades for our political leadership to implement such a legal provision reflects poorly on our electoral college. I congratulate the Narendra Modi government that it showed the courage and will to take the women’s reservation law to its logical end.

I am confident that besides increasing the representation of women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, it will also help in bringing the issues related to women on public platforms. As half of the country’s population consists of women, the reservation of 33 per cent will not only find a substantial representation in the assembly, but the voice of women will become more effective at the highest institutions of democracy. This recognizable share in political representation will also help in increasing their representation in other sectors of importance.

Though the votes of women play a decisive role in forming governments, they are often left behind when it comes to being elected to the legislature bodies. With the passage of this bill, it will be easier for women to take their concerns to Parliament and state assemblies, enabling us to actively participate in the country’s progress.

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Enhanced women representation in Parliament will prove to be a transformative move in upholding the right to participation for women and gender equality in India. This is an important step towards implementation of the sustainable development goals as well as India’s obligations on various international platforms like the United Nations. For, if you empower a woman, you empower a family.

I was dismayed at the reaction of some of the political parties, especially the Congress, on the passage of this bill. On one hand they tried to steal the credit by calling it ‘apna bill’ and on the other they were cherry-picking provisions in it to criticize the ruling government. Now, it is raising questions about its implementation (the process will start after delimitation and population census). Little do they realise that it is this never-ending habit of opposing everything put up by the central government that exposes their real intent to the electorate.

There could be some drawbacks in the bill, which will crop up at the time of its implementation. But all such downsides can be fixed by bringing suitable amendments to the law with time. Let’s at least start the process and put our best foot forward for half the population of the country. This is only the first step towards a journey which leads to an environment that has gender equality. This is not merely legislation, it is a tribute to the countless women who have enriched our nation with their sacrifices, resilience and contribution.

As told to Rajat Rai