Question

Take an interview of women representatives from local self-governing institutions from your area.

Answer 1

The MLA of our district is a woman. She has been involved in socio-cultural activities in our region for the last fifteen years. She is vibrant and active. An interview with her was very insightful and motivating.

Q: Do you see women’s reservation as part of a greater change in the social system?

Ans: I judge that the excellence and the ambience of politics will improve if more women come in. After bearing in mind the structure work for 45 years, it is understandable that we are the weaker sex, whether we like it or not. We are barred from jobs, the economic mainstream, decision-making processes, heritage rights... Whether one is fighting for the Scheduled Castes, the Backward Classes, or the minorities, the main group that is affected is women. And things have not changed since then. Unless we are assured an access point by law, we will never be allowed to participate. I really consider that. Some women say that we should come into decision-making positions on our own stream, but how many have come so far? To all those who say that they will do it on their own, I would like to ask why the number of seats occupied by women in the legislatures is deteriorating.

Q: You have completed some individual efforts at getting a large number of women's party tickets. What have you found to be the barriers?

Ans: We have tried, but we have been unproductive because we are neither in the collection panels nor are we represented in decision-making bodies. We give lists, we struggle, we counsel, but they don’t listen to us. The Election Commission will reserve 33 per cent of the seats by ballot for women. These are reserved for women for two terms and are then rotated. In the interim, women can establish themselves, and if they are popular, they will be able to contest on their own worth as general candidates by the next elections. So each ward has a chance to throw up women. We can set a deadline of 25 years, or five general elections, by which time the reservations for women could be removed. If women do not have an entry tip, how will they ever get in?

Q: What is your individual stand on the subject of 33 per cent reservation for women?

Ans: As a result of reservations, one million women have been elected to local bodies. In many states, they have even surpassed the quota. For example, in Karnataka, women constitute 47 per cent of the elected panchayat members. Bengal has also been a triumph story, as have Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We need reforms not just for women, but the whole system of selection of candidates needs to be renovated.

Q: How did this issue get included in your party’s manifesto?

Ans. We had argued for its early introduction so that negotiations and debate could be allowed. Finally, when it was introduced, those who had never spoken about reservations for Backwards Classes suddenly became the champions of Backwards Class reservations. Between 1991, when the Panchayath bill was introduced, and 1996, when this bill was on the verge of being introduced, these people did not address any of their concerns for the Backwards Class men! The issue gains importance only now because women are about to gain seats.

Q: Do you think this is just party games or something else?

Ans: No, no, even women in our party stood up to oppose the bill. There is a lobby of self-interest amongst women as well. The matter is different from the patriarchal viewpoint. They ask: Once decisions are taken, why have a women’s meeting?

Q: What is the status now?

Ans: A Select Committee has been set up. I am not recommending anything. Based on the various Commission reports, we made reservations about the services. Nobody had spoken about a proviso for Backward Classes or others in Parliament or legislatures. Women cut across all sections, and by giving reservations to them, you will be serving women from all sections to come forward. There are presently no reserved constituencies for the Backward Classes and minorities, so why should this issue get tied up with a reservation for women?

The interview session was so encouraging, and the MLA wound up the conversation by making high remarks about the future of the whole society.