Reservation for Women & Politics behind it

1. Reservation, Need, Reservation for Women. The term reservation only comes into picture if there is minority,The group is weaker, unable to progress due to any kind of reason.Women: The term reservation is used as they are unable to progress wrt. men due to our social norms and conditions.

2. History of Women.

In ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life. Rigvedic verses suggest that the women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their husband.

3. Deterioration of Position.

The Indian woman's position in the society further deteriorated during the medieval period when Sati, child marriages and a ban on widow remarriages became part of social life in India. Polygamy was widely practiced.

4. Reformers in India.

During the British Raj, many reformers such as Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotirao Phule etc. fought for the upliftment of women. Raja Rammohan Roy's efforts led to the abolition of the Sati practice. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's crusade for the improvement in condition of widows led to the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856.

5. Men Vs Women (Present Situation)

The idea of making a legal provision for reserving seats for women in the Parliament and State Assemblies came into being during Rajeev Gandhis tenure as the Prime Minister of India when the Panchayati Raj Act, 1992 came into effect granting not less then 33% reservation to women in the Panchayati Raj Institutions or local bodies.

6. Womens Reservation Bill

Passed in Rajya Sabha on 9th of March 2010 after two days of high drama. Suspension of seven members who violently disrupted proceedings. Withdrawal of support by Samajwadi Party & Rashtriya Janata Dal. It took 14 long years after the first attempt was made in Lok Sabha.

7. Politics behind Reservation.

The Bill in its Current form envisages reserving 181 seats in the Parliament for women. In practical terms its efforts would be that 181 male members of Parliament would not be able to contest elections if the Bill is passed. 181 seats in Parliament is too great a number to be sacrificed for the mere ideal of womens empowerment or adequate political representation, the very idea makes the male politicians panicky. Samajwadi Party has described the proposed legislation as anti-Muslim and anti-other backward classes'' in its present form as it excluded women of these sections. Terming the Bill dangerous,'' SP chief Mulayam Singh suggested in Lucknow that women be given 50 per cent reservation in government jobs rather than a quota in Parliament and the State Assemblies. Describing the Bill as a political blunder,'' RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Patna that it was a conspiracy hatched by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to suppress representation of women belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Muslim communities.

8. Politics of Women's Reservation Bill

Fourteen years and one small victory later, the Women's Reservation Bill has again begun to look iffy. In all this time, a lot many things could have been done independent of the fate of the Bill. Those in the forefront of demanding greater political representation for women, such as women leaders of mainstream parties, could have made a beginning by amending their own party constitutions to allow a fairer share of party ticket to women. Those opposing the Bill on the ground that it overlooks the interests of women from the Other Backward Classes and minorities could have shown their commitment by fielding a significant number of women from these categories in successive elections. Look at the shameful statistics. The Bill aims at placing one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and the State legislatures at the disposal of women. That is 181 in the Lok Sabha alone. Yet in the May 2009 Lok Sabha election, the Congress and the BJP, the two biggest champions of the Bill, fielded 43 and 44 women respectively. That is less than 10 per cent of the Lower House's strength of 544. And that is not even one-fourth of the one-third mark. The Congress is led by Sonia Gandhi, unarguably India's single most powerful politician. Partypersons hold her in worshipful reverence, granting her exclusive right over all party affairs. The BJP's Sushma Swaraj packs a punch, has always been in a decision-making role, and is currently leader of the Opposition in the Lower House. Was it beyond the means of these two leaders to ensure that women got their fair share during ticket distribution? The naysayers, comprising largely the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Bahujan Samaj Party and sections of the Janata Dal (U), stand equally exposed. In 2009, the following was the share of their women contestants. BSP:28; SP:15; JD(U): 3; and RJD: 2. Since these parties claim to represent the interests of the OBCs, Dalits and the minorities, it should be safe to assume that they would have chosen at least some among the women contestants from these categories. But in such pitiably woeful numbers? Male MPs from these parties have brought Parliament to a halt demanding justice for OBC-Dalit-minority women. They have resorted to violence, and have been bundled out by marshals, all to make the point that the Bill is weighted against socially disadvantaged women. Yet given a chance to exercise their own free will, their parties showed contempt for these women by being unacceptably miserly in awarding them ticket.

9. Benefits of Reservation.

More women participation in Society and Politics Social norms in India strongly favor men, therefore reservation for women is expected to create equal opportunities for men and women. Sex ratio in India is alarming at 1.06 males per female, this will change the society to give equal status to women.

When we have reservation for SCs/STs, OBCs according to their population ratio, Why not 50% reservation for women.

Resources / Articles:

Times of India: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rajya-Sabha-passes-Womens-Reservation-Bill/articleshow/5663003.cmsThe Hindu: http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article245970.ece

http://www.thisismyindia.com/ancient_india/woman-in-ancient-india.htmlhttp://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/51-100/Report81.pdf