For decades social and political activists have been vociferously demanding women representation in State and Central legislature. If one looks at the number of women candidates who were in fray in recent assembly elections in Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram and Delhi, the argument that political parties are disinterested in giving tickets for women appears to be fallacy.
For example, for the 200 seats in Rajasthan there were 154 women candidates and only 28 managed to get elected. Similarly, of the 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, there were 226 women candidates and only 13 were elected. Same was the case with J&K and Chhattisgarh where only 3 and 11 women candidates respectively got into the legislature. Even in Mizoram all the women who stood for election to the 40-member assembly lost the race to their male rivals. Mizoram is the only Indian state where women voters outnumber men.
The question arises here is that, why women candidates could not win in the state assembly elections?
I think this bleak picture is due to reckless joining by women in political parties without having any political understanding. The need of the hour is not the super women, but those who have clear vision about India with political understanding. Only then the campaign for women reservation could get edge resulting in adequate representations in Parliament and State Assemblies.
1. This Bill takes away the democratic right of 33% of the electorate (22 crore people) to elect their representatives. It restricts the choice of both men and women in those constituencies. The state has no right to limit the pool of representatives available to the public to choose from. This is against all democratic principles of free choice.
2. This takes away the democratic right of about 11 crore men to contest in elections, thus imparting a severe blow to the health of democracy in India . This is against the fundamental rights of 11 Crore men. It violates the right to equality guaranteed in the constitution.
3. It will lead to significant upheavals and instability in Indian polity, with MPs being forced to shuffle constituencies in almost every election. This would lead to an inability to nurture their constituency and further reduce accountability.
4. There are no measures to make sure that the benefits are received by the socially backward and underprivileged women, who really need them. There are no objective criteria to prevent the elite class or “creamy layer” of women from taking undue and unfair advantage of this legislation.
5. This Bill sacrifices merit and experience of seasoned law makers and will further divide the country on gender lines.
6. This bill suggests a rotation system which would be determined by draw of lots, in such a manner that a seat would be reserved only once in a block of three general elections. This is a serious flaw, insofar as it mechanically provides for entry of women members to fill one-third of vacancies in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. This subverts the democratic process which is all about free choice vis-à-vis a mechanical action/ process.
7. The representation system in parliament and state legislatures is for entire constituencies which include every single person, be they man, woman or child and not just one section of the population within a constituency. In other words, an MP or an MLA is a public servant who represents a constituency and not any group/ section/ portion of his/ her constituency. He/ she is supposed to protect the interests of all in his/ her constituency and not just a particular group/ section/ portion in his or her constituency. This bill is against this concept of representation. The bill implies representation of women.
8. India is a vast country and is multi-cultural, multi-ethic, multi-lingual and with several groups, castes, sub-castes etc. The implementation of this bill would lead to more demands from various groups and sections of society for similar representation and it would be an open invitation for politicization of the representative form of Indian democracy. It will be a death blow to representation through constituencies.
9. The concept of reservation is an insult to women and their capability. This law perpetuates gender discrimination.
Women can be successful in politics but hesitate to contest elections.The women who do enter politics are usually relatives of politicians or film stars,who are not in touch with reality and contest only for money and fame.
Educated women who have the welfare of society in mind should enter the fray and work towards the upliftment of mankind and the nation.Women do not need reservation,what they need is the oppurtunity.
Local Opinions (5)
1. This Bill takes away the democratic right of 33% of the electorate (22 crore people) to elect their representatives. It restricts the choice of both men and women in those constituencies. The state has no right to limit the pool of representatives available to the public to choose from. This is against all democratic principles of free choice.
2. This takes away the democratic right of about 11 crore men to contest in elections, thus imparting a severe blow to the health of democracy in India . This is against the fundamental rights of 11 Crore men. It violates the right to equality guaranteed in the constitution.
3. It will lead to significant upheavals and instability in Indian polity, with MPs being forced to shuffle constituencies in almost every election. This would lead to an inability to nurture their constituency and further reduce accountability.
4. There are no measures to make sure that the benefits are received by the socially backward and underprivileged women, who really need them. There are no objective criteria to prevent the elite class or “creamy layer” of women from taking undue and unfair advantage of this legislation.
5. This Bill sacrifices merit and experience of seasoned law makers and will further divide the country on gender lines.
6. This bill suggests a rotation system which would be determined by draw of lots, in such a manner that a seat would be reserved only once in a block of three general elections. This is a serious flaw, insofar as it mechanically provides for entry of women members to fill one-third of vacancies in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. This subverts the democratic process which is all about free choice vis-à-vis a mechanical action/ process.
7. The representation system in parliament and state legislatures is for entire constituencies which include every single person, be they man, woman or child and not just one section of the population within a constituency. In other words, an MP or an MLA is a public servant who represents a constituency and not any group/ section/ portion of his/ her constituency. He/ she is supposed to protect the interests of all in his/ her constituency and not just a particular group/ section/ portion in his or her constituency. This bill is against this concept of representation. The bill implies representation of women.
8. India is a vast country and is multi-cultural, multi-ethic, multi-lingual and with several groups, castes, sub-castes etc. The implementation of this bill would lead to more demands from various groups and sections of society for similar representation and it would be an open invitation for politicization of the representative form of Indian democracy. It will be a death blow to representation through constituencies.
9. The concept of reservation is an insult to women and their capability. This law perpetuates gender discrimination.
Women can be successful in politics but hesitate to contest elections.The women who do enter politics are usually relatives of politicians or film stars,who are not in touch with reality and contest only for money and fame.
Educated women who have the welfare of society in mind should enter the fray and work towards the upliftment of mankind and the nation.Women do not need reservation,what they need is the oppurtunity.
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