Women Reservation and Indian Politics

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Women Reservation | Women in politics | Women's Reservation Bill 2010 | Reservation in Indian Politics
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What is Women Reservation Bill ?

The Indian Women Reservation Bill has been an India political raw nerve for nearly a decade now. It has always triggered heated discussions in Indian Parliament and outside.

Women Reservation Bill in India 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.

If you are wondering just what the Women Reservation Billis and why it is so controversial, read on.

How did the Indian Women Reservation Bill originate?

The proposed legislation to reserve 33.3 percent seats in Indian Parliament and state legislatures for Indian women was drafted first by the H D Deve Gowda-led United Front government. The womens Bill was introduced in the Parliament of India on September 12, 1996. Though it has been introduced in Indian Parliament several times since then, the Bill could not be passed because of lack of India political consensus.

What does the women Bill provide?

Political Reservation for Indian women at each level of legislative decision-making, starting with the Indian Parliament, down to state and local legislatures.

If the women reservation bill Bill is passed, 1/3 of the total available seats would be reserved for women of India in national, state, or local governments.

In continuation of the existing provisions already mandating reservations for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, one-third of such SC and ST candidates must be women.

What is the argument in favor of the Women Reservation Bill?

Its proponents say it would lead to gender equality in Indian Parliament, resulting in the women empowerment as a whole. Historically, the women Bill's supporters say, women are deprived in India. Increased political participation of Indian women will help them fight the abuse, discrimination, and inequality women suffer from in India.

Does reservation for women exist in panchayat elections?

Yes, 33.3 per cent seats in panchayat elections have been reserved for Indian women already. The experience of Womenreservation at the panchayat level has been very encouraging. A million women are being elected to the panchayats in the country every five years. This is the largest mobilization of women in public life in the world.

Why is there opposition to the women Reservation Bill?

Various Indian political parties have staunchly opposed the bill because political Parties fear many of their male leaders would not get a chance to fight elections if 1/3 seats are reserved for Indian women. The women reservation Bill has also been opposed by Indian politicians from the economically and socially backward classes. They argue that women reservation would only help women of the elitist groups to gain seats, therefore causing further discrimination and under-representation to the poor women and women of backward classes.

Who are the main political opponents of the women Reservation Bill?

From day 1 , Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadavof the Samajwadi Party have been the main Indian political forces opposed to the Bill.

Why these India Political Parties are Opposing the women Reservation ?

The Samajwadi Partyand Rashtriya Janta Dalare opposed to the women Reservation bill in its present form and want a quota within quota for Indian women from backward classes.

RJD president Lalu yadav says the Indian Women reservation Bill 'would deny adequate representation to other sections of society.' He favors 10 to 15 percent reservation for women. 'My party is not opposed to woman's reservation, but the case of Dalits, backward classes, Indian Muslims and other religious minorities should not be overlooked,' is his argument.

"I want to see women like Kalawati and Bhagwati Devi to be included in the quota. There should be reservation within reservation," said RJD president Laloo Yadav.

Mulayam favors making it mandatory for political parties to give Ten percent of election tickets to women.

His argument is that if inadequacy of representation is the issue, why not reservation for Muslim women (there are only two in the present Parliament)?

If 33.3 per cent reservation for women is added to the already existing 22.5 percent for scheduled castes and tribes, more than 55 per cent of seats in Parliament would be reserved. This would not be fair to other sections of the population, he says.

Those who oppose the bill are saying that by asking for reservation women are perpetuating unequal status for themselves. But, then supporters argue that provision of reservation for women is only for 15 years. The idea of reservation is to create a level playing field so that women can raise their share in politics and society and then, look for equal status.

Most members opposing say that it is better to create reservation of women in political parties than in Parliament. The provision of rotation of reserved states is also debated. It can reduce the incentive of the elected Members of Parliament to spend energy because he or she may not be able to re-seek the mandate from the same constituency.

Status of the women Reservation Bill in India now?

The women reservation Bill had been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, and Personnel, which gave its report in December 2009.

It recommended passage of the Bill in its present form and suggested that the issue should not be left to the discretion of political parties.

The Indian central government cleared the Bill on February 25, 2010. For such a bill to pass, the Constitution has laid out an elaborate procedure. So, even if the Rajya Sabha passes the bill its real impact will be felt only when it passes through the Parliament.

On March 8, it's difficult to say how the government will manage order in the Upper House so that members favoring the bill can vote without disruption or chaos created by opposing members.

India Political Experts, Indian sociologists, Indian political scientists, feminists and Indian historians and almost everybody has said that if the women bill becomes an act then it will be the biggest social-political news since independence.

source : Rediff
 
Women Reservation

Women constitute the other half of our society. And they have every right to represent in the parliament. But is the reservation for women in the parliament the right way to ensure the rights of women?

I think, the women should be empowered at the grass root level through various programmes so that they can equally complete the males for getting tickets to contest election. Then there won’t be any need for their reservation. They will themselves have the caliber to fill up 33% seats in the parliament.

Besides, there is no guarantee that the female Member of Parliament will think more of the women of our country. Improvement of the ordinary women of our country is the need of the day, not just the empowerment of a few privileged ones.

It’s true that many prominent politicians will not be able to contest election in the years ahead as their constituency may be reserved for the woman candidates. But what if they put forward their wives as contestants in election and remain themselves in the backdrop as the actual decision maker. Will it not be like the Laloo- Rabri episode? Rabri was the dummy Chief Minister and the actual power was with her husband Laloo Prasad Jadav.

Will we envisage a similar situation in our parliaments too? The Member of Parliaments who will not get tickets to contest election because of this reservation will keep their wives in the forefront. And the power will be in their hands.

What do Proud Indians think?
 
Women Reservation in India

The game being palyed by bonelss self seeking politicians in India should be seen by one and all and stopped.What kind of women will be set up for reserved seats once these are mandatory and how it will be abused can be seen even by a blind folded fool.Pratibha Patil is making too much noise.She is President and should not interfere in normal political process going on in country.She should be neutral.Her role will come after bill may be passed and sent to her for accord.She is too much vocal and forgetting that she has managed to reach President house without even woman reservation.

All previous reservations are failures and have been abused.This bill will have much serious abuse.Certain women and relatives will be set up by corrupt politicians running their household politics in India and suspicious charactred women can manage to enter parliament just because we got to have 33% women after bill is passed.This is very very dangerous scene.33% is not a small figure it can play havoc with morality and strength of parliamentary process.

All have women in homes as mothers,sisters and wives.These politicians don't have to teach us how to respect and value them.they already hold high place in Indians coeuty and much higher place in matriarchal society of far east and torbal ares in india.North India is not the only India.

It is surprised out corrupt and foreign owned media and our top journalists including Kushwant Singh have disappeared.No one has guts to expose this big parliamentary fraud and damaging act going to take place.

People must wake up and protest.Write to all leaders they can lay their hands on and immediately send mails to PM and President to stpop bill or face consequences.

India is under tremendous pressure from US lobby and MNCs to weaken this country and finish our socio cultural economic strengths.

Stop and drop this stupid bill for ever from parliament and stop mockery of democracy.Democracy does not mean reservations but 'equitable' development of all sections of societies and not just foolish equality.May I know from Sonia,Advani, Lalloo and others what is the objective of you people by this bill and what are going to achieve?

How women reservation will help in better governance?Will it be better?There is no such evidence or research available in past history.Several women are already there in top positions including President of India so what they have done extraordinary ? Just nothing . What Pratibha Patil has done for society ,law,reforms, economy and empowerment? Nothing at all. Women can be as corrupt and are more politicking than men.They are more vengeanceful too.Ancient literature is full of this.

If these politicians and our PM Man Mohan are so fond of women representation why don't they simply make 33% reservation of candidates from every party, voluntarily? Purpose will be served.Sonia did start it in last election tickets.

By making reserved constituency for women you are thrusting upon us forcefully, 33% women.What will happen, any alert citizen can think.The stooges and women of suspicious background and character will be brought in parliament by evil politicians who will raise their hands for their masters . In parliamentary democracy proven people with sufficient and clean -excellent service record in any area of work in society is a must and they must pass through process of selection by parties and then people at election booths.It hardly matters if men or women come.The main point is quality,honesty and intentions.This bill is useless crap and a gimmick to please women voters like all other reservation stunts. Those who are beneficiaries of reservations have become creamy layers and rampantly corrupt and masses have never been benifitted.All reservations should be wound up now in next 10 years.It is already 62 years.

It is shame that 'baimann' policians of India are perpetuating reservations even after 62 years just to fool people and benefit themselves and to conceal their failure to develop society and create employment. They want people to be exploited ,remain poor and illiterate. Reservations are no substitute for development, attitude change and education. To hide the job shortage, reservations are done and people of various communities fight like dogs for a few jobs and plum political posts.See how sarpanch system has become a failure.

Drop this bill for ever. Without fixing good eligibility conditions to filter scrap and doubtful characters, such sweeping changes should not be implemented in country.

It is for people to react and act and not wait for someone else to start.Each of us owe to nation action from our end and awareness and protest. Besides,all other political differences, above facts do not give any merit to women reservation bill.

womens woman women women's forum forums
 
Reservation Debate

If we scrap reservation "water", what would happen to the politicians Lalu, Mulayam Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati , who have been sprouting and enjoying political power.

It was very heartening for me to note that - Ms. Sonia Gandhi has rejected further division among women, like a stateswoman.

I admire her stand and enjoy the frustration of three Yadavs, who were indulged in Vote Bank politics and hurting India.

We need competent independent decision making women in political arena not Rabdi Devis and her likes, who would again need a Lalu.
 
Women Bill Discussion

The rhetoric's and cheap tactics of people like Lalloo and Mamta Benarjee apart, this bill has hardly any purpose,logic and basis.It is a sinister and continuing attempt to divide society now further based on gender.India is a country of only reservations. We have lost count of the types of reservations existing .Shame on all politicians of India who have been treading in this country for last 60 years.Every week, prices are increasing and ManMohan Singh Ji is finding new ways to increase these further like putting service tax on housing ,fuel price rise and on and on.
In fact he and his cabinet colleagues should be tried for anti-national and anti-society activities.He it seems is a stooge of western capitalist mafia.Now coming back to women reservation bill by this congress Led UPA government.

1. What is eligibility conditions for a woman candidate in these reserved constituency? Will any type of woman qualify including relatives and friend or associates of current members of parliament and assemblies of and political leaders?It is not acceptable to us.

2. What is the real need for women reservation? Are Women more honest,competent and caring then menfolk in ruling country and in governance? There is no such statistical evidence or research findings.Most of women sarpanches are mere showpieces and managed by their parents,brothers or husbands.

3. Are not their adequate number of women already in politics ,parliament, science,arts, and in business and offices?

4. Why Parties don't make 33% ticket reservation for women in election contests? So they have to pick good performing women who can face voters for their work and standing.Should not we start with this type of affirmative action as they call in USA?

5. Are really weak women beneficiaries of any scheme in india? How many women will benefit?

6. Are men ignoring women? Not at all.Women are in all homes and we have women commission at national level and women and child ministries everywhere and so many NGOs are working for women empowerment? Why then reservation? why nor grass root development work for empowerment?

7. Are not reservations basic acceptance of failure of society and system to treat all equal and develop society? Shall we continue reservations as tricks to divert failures in development by politicians? Keep giving reservation pills instead of treating disease and strengthening body immune system?
Has nay blood pressure medicine treated blood pressure? No so is with diabetes.They improve only by lifestyle change.

People of India must protest against all types of reservations and rather press for budget allocation and goals set for each type of so called weaker sections for 3 yrs 5 yrs 10 year period.
 
I feel Women reservation bill is just a political weapon it has nothing to do with elevating her status in the society.It wont be possible until and unless parents stop telling their children -

'you are a boy so you are not supposed to cry' as if crying had been patented by girls
or

'You are a girl so you need to look beautiful or you need to know cooking........'
 
Reservation bill secures the legality of the women

The women reservation bill is presented by the Government of India for securing the rights women in the national level. It was a long cherished expectation among the women folk of India irrespective of the caste, creed and religion. With the help of the women reservation bill the right of the women can be established socially, economically and politically. It secures the legality of the women’s working at the national level.
 
women reservation could be a very crucial tool in giving women chance to come up in society. especially in indian politics we can see that once upon a time women were behind and not many were seen as candidates in election. but now the reservation has led to increase in number of women politicians. i wish there are more active participants from all parts of nation into the indian politics.:)
 
Women reservation bill is indeed an important factor and must be done for the women as there is no entry of women in politics and many other fields and places are taken over by the males. The women reservation bill information that you people have given is simply incredible. Thanks for sharing it with us!
 
Women reservation is an important thing which is required for the empowerment of women. Women should get chance in each field where men are contributing. Women are no less than anybody else in today's world. SO I think Women reservation is quite a fair affair i politics as majority is ruled by the male counterparts. This is the only way that women will be empowered and made strong.
 
Women reservation is one of the best ways to bring in women empowerment in India. Until now, the women of India were deprived of higher positions like those in politics. Women reservation will surely help the women to come up and stand amongst equal contenders and take part actively in Indian politics.
 
Women reservation is fine according to me as women need some support to grow and empowerment of women can only be done through the reservation because the majority is run by the men in not only politics and other fields but also in many areas of life. women need some reservation for themselves to grow as well.
 
Women reservation bill is indeed a remarkable initiative by the Government for empowering Women. Is just 33% reservation justifiable if it is to provide equal status?
 
Women Reservation Bill is something that is worth appreciable. It is a great endeavor on the part of Government for empowering women, however, the bill is still pending. The bill proposes that the Constitution should be amended in order to include 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha as well as every legislative assemblies of every state. 33% reservation is more than enough in order to provide equal status because the rest 17% seats can be occupied by women candidates by contesting fair elections.
 
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