There are few temptations that are irresistible. Since the entire country seems to be talking about women’s reservation bill, I couldn’t resist adding my 2 cents. First things first, let me say that I am happy that the women’s reservation bill got passed in the Rajya Sabha. There is a buzz everywhere and all the ‘breaking news’ on all the TV channels was that history was created. Though, I am not sure if that’s going to change things on the ground.
Probably I am naïve. Or, I could be a cynic. According to me the hullabaloo is not only premature; it is a result of ignorance. The reservation for women exists at the village level for more than 15 years now. However, I have not seen anything change significantly. Or, probably we all believe in incremental change or live with the hope that ‘the day is not far when…’. I still hear honour killings happening in parts of Haryana and Punjab. Eve teasing and rapes are endemic. What I fail to understand is how 200 women MPs can change the fate of half a billion people and make them empowered. And I fail to understand what is it that women chief ministers have done differently or significantly for the upliftment of women. And I, therefore, fail to see the causality between having more women in legislature and women upliftment.
Someone said-“Precaution is better than cure.” 62 years after independence, we have still not been able to think of preventive measures. What is most unfortunate is that there is still no uniform civil code. And the only way, it seems, that the politicians of this country can bring about reform in the civil society is through corrective measures like reservation.
Introducing corrective measures is still justified if the benefits pass on to the needy. I guess the governments over the years got tired of experimenting with the bottoms-up approach. Hence, this time they decided to follow the top-down approach. And now, I’m sure we’ll have a few more Mayawatis and Jayalalithas and Rabris and we’ll have a few more statues and parks built or someone else may hold the world record for owning the maximum number of slippers or someone may not only ruin the law and order of an entire state but the entire country. And who knows if we are unlucky and someone is really lucky, we may have all three ‘empowered scenarios’ being achieved by one person.
Anything for women empowerment…;-)
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Good article! Here's my 2 cents..:)
ReplyDeleteThe reservation at the gram panchayat level does work to bring lakhs of women into the public space. Yes, there have been many proxy candidates, but some women are doing great work and on issues which concerns the lives of women such a water, sanitation, violence against women, apart form regular issues of roads, infrastructure etc.
Political public space has been denied to women for centuries and it still continues in many ways in the form of proxy candidates. Reservation in this sense enormously supports women to participate in public life, a chance which would have never come to them because men wouldn't let them!
And lastly, why is it that when women come to politics do we always think that they will work to empower half the billion... when men come to power then we do not and only take them as a politician..
Examples like Mayawati and Jayalalitha are always given.. there are more men who have done shame like the Thackreys, and Yadavs etc. But are we critically looking at them and saying that men should not be in power?
Reservation works to bring women in public space. It is sad that a country has to bring forth reservation to do so, because otherwise there are only handful and the men wouldn't let them share political space. I wish the barriers for women were less so that truly there was no need for reservation!
very thoughtful Mohit.. cheers.
ReplyDeleteThnx for your comments...not sure who you are as I cant see your username.
ReplyDeletei think we agree that it is unfortunate that reservation is being used as a means to establish uniform civil code.
However, the point is not that if men do a good job of uplifting the masses...the point is to see how reservation in the Parliament will change the lives of women at the grass-root level.
And as regards bringing women to public space is concerned, I do not agree with you. If the kith and kin of politicians are the ones that will be benefited, then I do not see what purpose reservation solves
thnx, saurabh!
ReplyDeleteHey Mohit, it was interesting to read ur views..and I would agree with ur cynicism, after all we have all the reasons..reinforced on us everyday to believe so...passing of the bill though is a good step towards having women representation.. but interpreting it for women's empowerment is too far sighted..we also forget the context in which this bill will be executed..north east will be very different from Bihar, Tamil Nadu will be different from Maharashtra...still a question comes to my mind...wht if the bill was not at all there? isn't it a step after all ..no one can interpret its effect...once added to our complex societal structures..don't know wht concoction it turns out to be..?? The problem is that we are all purists... :)
ReplyDeleteHye Shruti
ReplyDeleteThat's why I said in the first place...Im happy that it got through the RS :)
and yes, we are all purists :)
I didn't think reservation was for the upliftment of women at grass root levels! It is only a means to ensure that women are given an opportunity to be on the government, which doesn't come easily in a male dominated country. The job is uplifting the masses, as u pointed out, and it remains the same whether it is a male MP or female. Over n above that, if having women in power would benefit the less fortunate women @ grass root level, it is a bonus. So, let's not overrate the impact of reservation in terms of upliftment of women @ grass root level, and thereby dismiss the initiative as futile.
ReplyDeleteHey Mohit,
ReplyDeleteHere's my 2 bits. It is sad that after 60 years of independence we still have reservations. Has reservations in the last 1/2 century uplifted any community or class.
I think we women are capable of reaching great heights without reservation. What we need is not reservation for a gender, class or community. We need reservations for honest, hard working, deserving people with a vision. A reservation for non - criminals maybe? Idealistic - yes, impossible - maybe.
@anonymous-It is important to dream even if you dream of utopia...i totally agree with you :)
ReplyDelete@Sarah-that's why I am surprised what is the hullabaloo all about...if it is all about 200 women.
ReplyDelete