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50-percent women in AICC

Kashmir Times. Dated: 7/5/2013 9:52:43 PM

Dear Editor,
It refers to welcome but gimmick statement by Congress Vice President aiming at 50-percent participation of women in party-affairs. Even though it is a welcome initiative, yet it remains much short of giving women an appreciable one-third participation in legislature even despite their being 50-percent of total population. If the ruling party is indeed sincere for giving women speaking power in political affairs, it should annonce decision for one-third party-tickets to women in next Lok Sabha elections, as also suggested by Election Commission as an interim measure till passage of ‘Women Reservation Bill’. It will instead provide immense and massive popularity to the party for political gain in the elections. Rather the ruling alliance should do so for all the parties by a simple notification not requiring any legislation.
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 party-tickets from reserved quota to women in states with no base of the concerned party. Moreover to prevent wives or other relations/associates being misused as ‘proxy’ of male politicians, there should be a system whereby name of husband or any other relation may not be permitted in election-campaigns of women candidates.
At a time when women-quota in panchayats and local bodies is being increased to 50-percent from earlier 33-percent, it is meaningless to resist 33-percent reservation to women in legislature. Rather there should be uniform 33-perecent reservation for women at all stages from civic bodies to Parliament. Even Islamic world including Pakistan and many other democratic countries including fresh democracy in Nepal have adopted Women-Reservation in legislature.
--Madhu Agrawal
1775 Kucha Lattushah
Dariba Delhi.