Women's Bill dated 08/03/2010 (IWM)

As I write this column, Job is half done by UPA in pushing the bill in favor of 191-1 in the Upper House, and in all probability, bill is poised to take its course and go past the chequered flag. As everyone from a hardcore political analyst to a common man eagerly awaited this day to witness the proceedings of the Upper House, UPA finally brought smiles to the women of this country. One must appreciate the work done by floor management today as they were quick to learn from blunders committed previous day, and managed to pull the collars of hundred hooligans out of the upper house and smoothened the proceedings for a final vote. A bill which was long haunting, at least for the past thirteen years, then primarily envisaged by the congress government, had faced enough blockades on its way. For the first time, in Indian history, UPA, BJP and the Left, had come together onto a common platform putting aside their political and ideological rivalries , and opined the same voice. It demanded great courage and will for a woman at helm to successfully push the bill to empower women in securing 33% seats for Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. It is very coincident that today, we've a woman as the president of this country, we've a woman as the Leader and principal architect of the UPA government, we've a woman as the speaker of Lok Sabha, we've a woman as the opposition leader in the parliament, all holding their hands together and celebrate this defining moment in the country's history. I perceive this as a beautiful gift to the women of this country as we all celebrate golden jubilee of International Women's Day. Amid shrinking support to the UPA, from its allies outside, RJD & SP, it stood firm in slating this bill to its completion. What remains a challenge for UPA is in its ability to place financial or future bills, where even a single wrong move could prove costly to them from its closest allies.
Bill in its current form, looks a little immature and half baked. May be the bill demanded an intellectual and healthy debate in the House for some more time. I'd love put forth my views on this bill here under four points. First, Reserving 33 percent of the seats in Lok Sabha, majority of small parties will be ruined by this decision as they currently do not have as much bench strength as Congress, BJP do. Second, considerable number of independents, who are known in the constituency with their hard work and persistent commitment towards people's common problems would go vanished. Third, unless there are strict amendments made to this bill, wives of all the local political leaders under the shadows of husbands would ruin the country as before. Four, How can one expect a woman to come onto the streets after decades of suppression, inaccessibility to a common pool of resources, inequalities in government jobs and high offices? I believe the government will soon pitch onto these issues and address them before the sun sets. I'd love to see an amendment, where women are empowered at Grama Panchayat and Municipal bodies as well. I wish more and more women now occupy the high offices and make India an example to the rest of the world.