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The Union Cabinet finally approved the much disputable Women’s Reservation Bill which provides for 33% reservation to women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The bill is likely to be presented to the Parliament in this session itself.
The bill has already been presented in Rajya Sabha in the year 2008 and is property of Rajya Sabha. Now the Business Advisory Committee will decide when to present the bill in the Lok Sabha.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Women empowerment has put up a special request to the President to hold the discussion on the bill on March 8 so as to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day.
There has been a lot of controversy over the proposed bill since last 12 years. Samajwadi party and Janta Dal(united) have been opposing and delaying the bill constantly over their demand of sub-quota for OBC women.
There is a lot of gung ho over the bill in the ‘pro-bill’ lobby whereas the opposers have rolled up their sleeves to give a good fight. We are yet to see how the drama unfolds in the parliament considering the fact that the hon’ble speaker of the lok sabha happens to be a woman herself!
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bhawana nayak
10 years ago
but how will the bill help deprived women from the bottom of the society be politically active?
and if any woman from a deprived section was to be politically active, then also this measure cannot help her to an extent which is much more than the current status (i.e. without such a bill).
We can’t force women into the parliament if they don’t want to come. Ultimately, it will result in what happened in the Rabri-Lalu case. The core concern is not addressed with conviction by this bill.
The need to have at least a certain proportion of the parliament as women is very much present, especially in light of the policies of inclusive growth and governance, upholding the real nature of democracy. However, providing an unqualified quota in parliament to women candidates is definitely not the correct solution.
If substantive equality is the objective, then we need to realize the need for substantive equality among women! The very fact that even after having the President of the country and Party President of the majority party in the government as women we need reservations for women clearly indicates the existing inequalities among women. Still the bill has no provision for a quota within a quota. Ultimately, the ones who have neither a need for a quota nor willingness to enter the parliament will be the ones taking advantage of this system and behind the guise of these women will be a plethora of operating political forces.
This move has more costs and very little benefits. The need is still there, but the bill is no solution.
Nikita Anand
10 years ago
Bhawana, Parliament is made up by the elected representatives of citizens of India. The Women’s reservation bill is expected to ensure one-third of the seats to women and that is primarily without any qualification. It provides for no specification regarding caste or category of the contesting woman.
BSP, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janta Dal have been demanding a sub quota for SC, ST and OBC women.
The only question which I find apt enough to pose here is- ‘Are the persons under the proposed sub quota not women?’
The very obvious answer to the question implies that the proposed bill is trying to result into uniform representation to all the women without drawing any lines of distinction. This in turn ensures that all women irrespective of caste, creed or class get an opportunity to contest elections.
Above all its the discretion of the political party to give ticket to a particular woman or not. Bhawana this defeats your noble motive to help deprived women from bottom of the society to be politically active.
The already existing reservation system in India is enough to drive our country into shambles. Is differentiating one woman from another called for at this point of time?
Supriya
10 years ago
I don’t know why there is so much of hue and cry after reservation only in India- be it reservation over caste, or be it over gender. First the constitution treats all citizens as equals, then government tells that certain categories that have been put under reservation quota are inferior. First there’s a campaign “Ladka Ladki Ek Samaan”, then girls are told that since they are weaker gender in society, so they need reservation. How long would take it us to realize that reservation is really not needed in India anymore. Politicians just use it a weapon in politics. Rather than providing such reservation, girls should be allowed to gain free education upto any level so that when they become self-dependent, they do not really require any quota.Females are an integral and equal part of society – Indians should realize this fact asap in order to really develop.I hope to see an India where females stand equal to males without needing any reservation.
Nikita Anand
10 years ago
Supriya, Quoting the celebrated sociologist Andre Beteille it can be said that the country called India has been ruled by CASTE CLASS and POWER. But considering present scenario I will put forth that now our country will ruled by CASTE CLASS POWER and GENDER.
Supriya
10 years ago
and exactly, this is why India will never superceed developed nations, and will always remain a developing country. A country that has top minds selected on the basis of caste, creed, sex, religion or any other bias, does not deserve to be developed.
Megha
8 years ago
Interesting discussion on one of the controversial issues of reservation. I believe that by following an managerial/administrative & impartial approach we can lead/guide this sesitive issue of all kindsof reservation in India. For this,to the very first we need to abandon political view & definition of development of men in society. And,lets invite for the talk,the people who comes under reservation category & the people who have ever get the benefit of this policy in their life.
deepak
7 years ago
we have to change the mind set of people against — workers