Partners in progress

The debate over reservation for women in Parliament has gone on long enough. Isn't it time we woke up to the fact that democracy keeps women on the sidelines? Until equality between men and women on a social and political level is ensured, no true democracy is possible in India, says V. MOHINI GIRI, calling for a change in the mind-set of our patriarchal society.

THERE have been many debates about the need for reservation of women in Parliament. A nation is a living, pulsating entity - changing and developing new aspirations and facing new challenges. A visionary Parliament, as our founding fathers hoped it would be, will constantly evolve, devolve and evolve again, new combinations and permutations keeping the changing economic, social, legal and political factors in view. The socio economic framework is changing rapidly to bring women into the job market. Either as a housewife or as a professional, she contributes towards nation building. And then the lawmakers of the nation turn around and say: we can reserve seats for the backward, the deprived, the marginalised. But you, despite being violated against, despite the sexual, psychological and physical assault on you, despite economic dependence and deprivation, despite a heavily patriarchal legal code, despite a plethora of social traditions meant to suppress you... you are not marginalised enough, not discriminated against enough, not deprived enough, not weak enough to merit reservation in Parliament.

The demand for reservation is not new to our country. In 1920, Sarojini Naidu and Margaret Cousins had led a small delegation of women demanding rights of representation. This was at a time when women in most western countries had no right to vote. Later in 1931, the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress had committed itself to political equality of women regardless of their status and qualifications in response to women organisation's memorandum demanding total adult franchise.

Formerly, women's participation in politics or their presence in this field was not considered essential. We know that there are two major methods of political participation, one as voter, and the other as elective office for representation in legislature and government. The presence of women is visibly lacking. Despite persistent efforts, women continue to be marginalised due to the patriarchal mindset of the society.

A major hurdle is getting women into politics. It is not just a matter of finding women willing to stand for election but getting women to show that first vital interest in participation, which is registering to vote. Around the country, women are being mobilised by the women's movement and local women politicians to take more interest in politics.

The campaign for women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies had been now going on for the past four years. This initiative is to establish political equality which is guaranteed in our Constitution. The campaign that has been carried on by the NCW and the women's movement has created public interest from grassroots onwards, in asserting the rights of women. The campaign without question signifies the social and political space created by women's movement and the NCW in India for building up an effective initiative for the rights of women. We have been striving hard to pave the networking and alliance of different groups of women activists all over the country trying to evolve the identity of women as one political constituency in India.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 13, 1996. The Bill that should have been passed on the same day is still a far cry from reality. All political parties had reached a consensus that 33 per cent reservation for women should be made in the Legislature. The highlights of the bill are:

There should not be less than one third seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

The reservations are for an indefinite period.

The reserved constituencies are to be determined through a draw of lots because for SCs and STs, constituencies are reserved on the basis of the proportion of the population. Constituencies with a high SC/ST population are supposed to be delimited after some years. Since the population of women is unevenly spread throughout the country, this formula cannot be applied. The draw of lots system means every time a new set of constituencies will be declared as reserved for women.

There is also a provision of parallel reservations for SCs and STs, which is to say, women belonging to SCs and STs will be getting one third of seats reserved for people of that category, that is quota within a quota.

The Bill leaves out of its purview reservations in the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council.

The denial of rightful share of political power to women who constitute half the total population is a global phenomenon. Today the world is watching us if we would be able to take this historical step towards equality. In a polity where money, feudalism and muscle power dominate, women's political participation is not merely difficult because of the patriarchal structure of the parties, but also virtually impossible. We have noticed that women were denied their rightful share in power by a virtual monopoly of party tickets by men.

Most of the women MPs confided to me that they continued to be elected because, they say they are known for their good track recordTo be elected, a women needs to join a political party. The potential candidate must go through a selection process by applying to and being endorsed by the party, then campaigning, usually with the other endorsed candidates, to convince the electorate of her credibility and ability.

Several women's organisations have shown that solidarity among women can fight even powerful vested interests and today, if all of us come together we will be able not only to give good governance but also to set up good parliamentary democracy.

I also feel that women have a special place in politics and that "we are better organisers and leaders. Men sometimes overlook issues that women can see clearly. We can dig in our heels and give the men something to think about."

I have explored the possibility of women groups identifying potential women candidates to be fielded. When we ask women about fielding women, we are told "We are getting the support of the ladies in the town". "I don't think we will have a problem reaching our target if we field the candidates." "Things are changing and now women are aware of their rights. They can vote for who they like and don't have to be bullied by their husbands into voting for candidates of their choice and how they can also be prospective candidates themselves."

Women known as social workers made good candidates: "They are accessible - so that the electorate, particularly women, can air their problems," they said. "Aspiring candidates should stay in their own area, where they are known, and look for an issue they can speak on such as drinking water, environment, health and schooling."

Even at the grassroots level everyone is in favour of the smooth passage of this bill. Hence, opposition to this bill, if any, is not from anyone except the male politician who is reluctant to give one third of the seats of power.

Contrary to what has often been said, democracy in India marginalises women. No real democracy is possible in India if the question of equality between women and men is not regarded as one of the constitutive elements of the political system. The strategy for parity should consist of measures which will ensure full participation of women at all levels and in all aspects of the functioning of a democratic society, on an equal footing with men.

Parity is, in the end, the best way to guarantee that women have the right to defend their own interests, as it is clear that, until now, men have not wanted or not been able to defend the interests of their whole electorate, especially the interests of women. They have not been capable of ensuring the observance of equality of rights and opportunities for all. The injustice lies also with men, thanks to their over-representation, have been able to put forward the diverse interests that different groups of men have, whereas women, whose interests are just as diverse as those of men, have not been able to do so. Because of their very small number in political and public life, those women elected are always expected to defend "Women's interests", as if women were a homogenous group or an interest group, having only common interests.

In the prevailing social context, women have been confined to a private sphere as if they were the only ones entrusted with the reproduction and care of the human species, and all the social structures have functioned in relation to the masculine norm. If democracy is considered as having to integrate all social forces, it is obvious that such a relegation can no longer be tolerated in a democratic society; whatever the structure of that society, a new perspective and mind-set needs to be introduced in society.

Who says that tokenism is not the order of the day. Men, women, all have the temptation to play to the gallery. When we talk about reservation, men look surprised and say - wasn't Indira Gandhi the Prime Minister of the country? Worse, they quote the South Asian countries being headed by women presidents and Prime Ministers. Then they quote several hundred laws favouring women. Isn't the President of India a member of the lower caste, they say. One could go on like this, but the problem of tokenism cannot be solved. Heated discussions ensued in the Parliament on December 23, 1999, and the Lok Sabha was thrown into a turmoil on the question of the reservation bill.

Thanks to the ingenuity of the Union Law Minister, Mr. Ram Jethmalani, that the Government was able to introduce the bill after having failed three times before, first in 1996, then in 1997 and last in 1998. Amid pandemonium, the speaker Mr. Balayogi asked for voice vote, which though inaudible, was announced loudly. The Samaj Party leader Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to accept the verdict and Mr. Vajpayee was heard saying that he had never in his 40 years as a parliamentarian witnessed such an incident in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to reserve one-third seats to the Lok Sabha, the legislative Assemblies of the states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi for a period of 15 years.

Swami Vivekananda once stated "No nation can be great if half of its population is degraded and discriminated against. Women constitute half of India's teeming billion. Political participation is a vital link towards total empowerment of women. With that empowerment she, as many of my brothers seem to fear, is not a threat to men but a partner in progress - the effective participant - the true Bhagidhari.

The author is former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.

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