MARCH 8 observed as International Women’s Day has come and gone. Is India getting closer to the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament? It has not yet made it to the Lok Sabha even after long discussion on the subject for a number of years. The BJP government has a massive majority in the Lok Sabha and is in a position to push it through whenever it wants to. Speaking at the National Conference of Women Legislators, both President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari said that the bill should be brought up yet again. All parties are agreed on the passage of the bill and yet it is being stalled. Male political privilege has been supported by leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav. Not that there has been no progress. The number of female legislators is 12% today vis-à-vis 5% in 1952. There are two women cabinet ministers at the Centre and two state Chief Ministers. The number of women fighting elections has gone up significantly. Of course, women’s emancipation and empowerment are not necessarily proved by reservation of seats in legislatures. That may be the reason that women in politics have not been all that militant about getting the bill passed.
The insistence on 33% reservation for women may be unrealistic. What is more important is that political parties should recruit more women members. Besides, political parties and governments should focus more on enabling women to lead better lives while ensuring that girls do not drop out and women enjoy greater health service. Above all, the constant threat of violence against women should be eliminated. It can best be done by promoting gender equity