The Women's Reservation Bill

March 8. It would have been the apt day, if the Women's Reservation bill has been passed. 33% reservation for women to possess seats in state assemblies and lok sabha still remains a daydream. The thing which surprises me the most is that eventhough many top positions like president, speaker, chairpersons of leading polotical parties are all occupied by women, still the Women's bill has taken a decade time to get its approval.

Its not that the opposing parties are against the empowerment of women, but they have their own political theories behind for denying it. The fear of UPA and BJP getting more advantage in elections has made SP and BSP to think against the Bill.
I was surprised to know that there was no single women minister under BSP. SP and BSP doesnt seem to have a well organised women's wing which would make them difficult to find a women's candidate for the elections. This would reduce the oppurtunities for other expexted male candidates in the party.

But they have started accusing , saying the Bill has its own advantages for women from upper castes alone. They want seperate reservations for women belonging to OBC, SC and ST within that 33% reservation. This seems somewhat Ok to me as, no seperate reservation is needed for Upper caste women to make their mark in our electorate. Its only SC/ST women who gets affected the most. But we cant expect the Bill to be perfect the first time. Gradual improvements to the Bill can be made only if we allow the Bill to pass.

Also, these parties say that they have denied it in interests of OBC's and Muslims , who are yet to receive definite reservation. They have termed UPA government as Anti-Muslim and Anti-minorities. But they themselves have become Anti-women by not allowing the Bill to pass. Keeping these things aside, the behaviour of the MP's in parliament is undigestable. We have always had a proud history of fighting senselessly in the parliament. That continued when passing Women's Bill too.
I dont understand why do they have to show such dis-interest by jumping and tearing the Bill. Meanwhile, Janata Dal(U) president Nitish kumar has supported the Bill saying he doesn't want UPA to get the credit all by itself by passing the Bill, as it was Janata party under Deve Gowda first initiated the process. DMK, AIADMK has extended their support to women's right as they always do.

Whatever political reasons, these parties are interested in, I have always had my opinion that women should be given the right to represent asap. If women, caste, religion are the major criterias in electoral system of India, then why should we have a system that is based on region. Its good to see UPA and BJP have joined their hands in this issue. Already in panchayat systems , the reservation for women has been passed and is happening effectively across the country. Whether the Bill is passed or not, One cannot deny that only by increased participation of women in political parties allow them to fight against discrimination and abuse. With increased support from sociologists, political scientists, feminists and historians and almost everybody , it can be seen that the Bill cannot be delayed for ever. Its today or tomorrow.