India's upper house of parliament has passed a historic bill aimed at reserving one-third of seats for women in federal and state legislatures.
The legislation -- commonly referred to as the women's reservation bill -- cleared the upper house of parliament on a majority vote Tuesday, but not before the body evicted slogan-shouting lawmakers opposed to the long-pending legislation.
The bill next moves to the lower house of parliament, but no date has been set for lawmakers to take up the issue there. Tuesday's debate and voting followed a day of drama in the Indian parliament over the legislation, which had been stuck for almost 15 years.
Lawmakers from socialist regional groups disrupted the upper house with noisy protests, forcing adjournment several times, until the members were suspended for the rest of the session.
The bill won passage with overwhelming support from India's governing Congress party, its main opposition of Hindu nationalists and Communists alike.
Political analysts said the small but fierce opposition to the bill is a sign of a duel between the country's regional and national politicians.
The Women's Reservation Bill has been a political raw nerve for nearly a decade now. It has always triggered heated debates in Parliament and outside. Its advocates say the Bill is essential for active political participation of women. Opponents argue that reservation would only help women of elitist groups gain political power, aggravating the plight of the poor and deprived sections.
Kunika lall says " I think it must be passed but with a healthy debate, however I am not sure of the impact it will have if there are no reservations for categories. I am not in favour of reservations, in fact I am not in favour of caste n tribe reservations either, but we cannot do. Away with them since every citizen does not have an equal opportunity at the grassroot level as yet. Hopefully we will live to see that day."
She adds "The country has a female president, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who in 2007 became the first woman elected to the post. The leader of the opposition in the lower house, Sushma Swaraj, and the speaker of the lower house, Meira Kumar, are also women, as is Congress leader Sonia Gandhi."
Kunika Lall is a prominent social activist and member of the Congress Party.
Dear Kunika,
ReplyDeleteI am a resident of Oshiwara. The last time you were in the news, you represented NCP. But you were never given a ticket for contesting.
You have also lost an election when you contested as an independent.
You joined congress now and still never received a ticket. I personally think this kind of reservation will help women like you.
Dr Sachin Kelkar
Kunika,
ReplyDeleteWomen are not asking for grace and charity. Their contribution to the cause of nation-building exceeds that of men. An International Labour Organisation study shows that “while women represent 50 percent of the world adult population and a third of the official labour force, they perform nearly two-third of all working hours, receive a tenth of world income and own less than one percent of world property.” Therefore, reservation for women is not a bounty but only an honest recognition of their contribution to social development.”
Since i am NRI and staying outside India, but I am Happy today., that there is some development.
cheers!!
Sudha Kumar Garg
The women’s reservation as introduced currently is a scam. It does not empower women but enfeeble the most vital democratic institution, namely the parliament. Why?
ReplyDeleteConstitutional impropriety: The founding fathers of the constitution did not envisage a ‘proportional’ representation but representation of the people on the basis of population as a whole without any consideration for their cast, creed or gender. To provide proportional reservation on the basis that women account for about 50% of the electorate, is to change the ‘character’ of the constitution and hence it is ‘ultra vires’ or beyond the power of the parliament. In the alternative if it is argued that the structure of the parliament is not altered but only grouped a set of seats exclusively for women, then such an amendment is violative of the principle of equality and hence still unconstitutional. This alone should close the arguments in favour of the bill but there are more ;-0)
Prachi Mehra
If such type of bill is required then it should be basis on POOR and DALIT communities women. Otherwise those women will be powered who have got already power and they won’t work for the POOR people(i.e.for 70% of the INDIANS). If this type of reservation really works then SC,ST,OBC reservation might shine INDIA so far. They failed because these are based on COMMUNITY basis not on ECONOMY based. So this reservation should change a little.
ReplyDeleteIf we have a woman representative who is elected through the same creaky electoral machine that relies on black money, backroom deals and influence peddling then is she going to be different from the existing elected representatives?
ReplyDeleteIs being a woman enough to “represent” women?
Hansika Tiwari
Kunika Ji,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all am very glad to see you have an official blog. It is very good blog and gives lot of information about you.
On this topic,
Why we need quota for each and every thing in India. Women are free to contest in election, so why to congest them in 33% (in this also quota with in quota). Whoever has the right talent should contest in election. Irrespective of gender bias or majority/minority discrimination, we need only good capable people to lead India.
Victory for all Indians.
Usha Bachani
Kunika,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know that people like you, use the internet and blogs to communicate.
Today Men and Women are equal. Rather there are numerous areas where women are better than men. This sort of a reservation bill just keeps this sort of a difference alive at the back of everyone’s mind. There should not be any reservation in the Parliament. Both men and women should prove their worthieness and get their seats. Rather than we having such cry about reservation bill we should rather have the following A> All men or women prior to graduation should do 2 years of army service B> No one without having a post doctoral degree should be allowed to be a member of parliament. The universities from which an individual needs to get his doctoral degree should be defined by the Central Government and should be an University in India… also we ca forget people like Ms Banerjee and Ms Yadav who make false certificates.
Nayantara Sharma
Kunika,
ReplyDeleteSuch a policy is likely to increase the pool of talent needed at the top of our political class. Few would argue that India's politics suffers from a lack of credible leaders. To the extent that that is the result of limiting our talent pool to men only, this policy is likely to increase the number - if not the probability - of better leaders.
This bill may not be the best solution or only solution to empowering women. But let not the perfect be the enemy of the good
S Mishra