SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL
(Guinness Record Holder & RTI Activist)
Encourage women by legislating Women Reservation Bill
#SakshiMalik makes India proud by winning Olympic-medal in women-wrestling. Indian daughters have always been ahead of boys now even in Civil-Services examinations. ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ slogan given by Indian Prime Minister can and should be turned into reality if ‘Women Reservation Bill’ is legislated. India having most rubbish practice of aborting girl-foeticide, unfortunately ranks 109 amongst 193 global nations in terms of women Parliamentarians which is just 12-percent against global-average 22.7-percent with Rwanda having maximum 63.8-perecnt women Parliamentarians. Islamic world including Pakistan and many other democratic countries including fresh democracy in Nepal have adopted Women-Reservation in legislature. It is also high time for Indian women constituting 50-percent population to be united for a total defeat to political parties opposing Women Reservation. Rather it should be made an effective poll-issue by political parties supporting ‘Women Reservation’.
Since not all the bills are passed by consensus, it is totally unjustified to hold the bill in name of never-to-be-achieved consensus. Many political parties cry for reservation on man-made aspects like religion and cast evidently for vote-bank politics, but oppose reservation to women which still remain dominated section of society created by nature in our male-dominated political system. There should be uniform 33-perecent reservation for women at all stages from civic bodies to Parliament rather than having 50-percent at lower levels.
Best is to adopt Election Commission’s formula to make it compulsory for every political party to give at least 33-percent party-tickets to women. However it should be ensured that such distribution may be state-wise rather than on country-basis. Otherwise parties will fulfil formality of women-quota by giving all tickets from reserved quota to women in states with no base of the concerned party. However to prevent wives or other relations/associates being misused as ‘proxy’ of male politicians, there should be a system whereby name or photo of husband or any other relation may not be permitted in election-campaigns of women.
