The Women’s Reservation Bill which proposes 33% reservation to women in Parliament was tabled in the Parliament thirteen years back. Most political parties and the associated leaders have expressed support for this bill but only in speech but not in action. So far only discussions, debates and deliberations are taking place in the name of achieving consensus. The current picture is that India has lagged behind regional neighbors such as Bangladesh, where the proportion is 15%, and Pakistan, where it is 30%.
Women’s reservation – why Indian politicians are blocking the bill?
This bill attempts to correct some of the deep routed gender disparities in India, where women suffer disproportionately from illiteracy, poverty and low social status. If signed into law it would raise the number of female representatives in the 545-seat lower house to 181 from the current 59.
With politicians whose illiterate wives too are running the show, blocking and mocking the bill at every stage and opportunity, it is noe seemingly difficult to pass the bill now. These people say that an Indian woman’s rightful place is in the kitchen whereas their own wives and daughters are working without having knowledge and the qualification to do so.
It is interesting to note that those who opposed empowering backward class people through providing reservation, pretend to support women’s reservation bill while those who are in favour of reservation for other backward classes are seen opposing the reservation for women in parliament. I think, this kind of a philosophical clash has been created deliberately to stall or delay the empowerment of Women.
