https://sputniknews.in/20230922/long-awaited-change-coming-in-womens-reservation-bill-telangana-lawmaker-4371128.html
Long-Awaited Change Coming in Women's Reservation Bill: Telangana Lawmaker
Long-Awaited Change Coming in Women's Reservation Bill: Telangana Lawmaker
Sputnik India
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (19 September). 22.09.2023, Sputnik India
2023-09-22T16:55+0530
2023-09-22T16:55+0530
2023-09-22T20:45+0530
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The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Women's Reservation Bill, which provides for a 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, was passed by the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) on Wednesday.Although the opposition parties showed their support for the bill, they missed the opportunity to claim credit for its introduction.With ample support in Lok Sabha, the bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) on Thursday and passed unanimously after a day-long debate.With the Bill seeing the light of the day after almost 27 years, K. Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, in an interview to Sputnik India, shared her views on the Bill and what will be the way forward for women in politics after the Bill is passed.Notably, Kavitha had staged a peaceful sit-in protest in March this year, demanding the introduction of a women's reservation bill. As many as 21 political parties had participated in the protest, along with several women's organisations and representatives from all 29 states.Sputnik India: Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. What is your opinion on it?Kavitha: First of all, we are very happy and elated that a first step has been taken to ensure greater participation of women in politics. However, as per the caste system of the country, there are many sections like Other Backward Class (OBC) who have not been mentioned in the bill. They have not been given a quota and in most Indian states they are a vulnerable section of society and continue to lead a difficult life.So it would have been really encouraging and would have added to the happiness if OBC women could have found a place in the highest authorities or highest platforms like Parliament or Assemblies.Otherwise, it is a significant step as 33 per cent reservation will ensure that 181 women will be in the Indian Parliament, a huge number as there are only 80 at present.Sputnik India: During the discussion, all the political parties took credit for passing the bill. Who do you think should take the credit?Kavitha: Well, instead of giving credit to any political party or individual, I think the credit should go to the Indian women who have been patiently waiting outside the parliament and assemblies for our issues to be discussed.If you look, when India got its independence, everyone, including men and women, got the right to vote, unlike in many other countries where women had to fight for the right to vote. So this is one of the greatest achievements of India as a nation. Our visionary leaders at that time worked very hard to ensure that women got the right to vote. So that was the first big step.That is why, after the 1970s, there was a demand for reservation for women so that they could have their fair share in politics. After 75 years, the number of women has not increased very much, so the struggle has continued and this move by the government to reserve 33 per cent seats for women is a big achievement for women.I say that no one should take the credit, because for 75 years every political party kept women out of parliament.I would also like to draw the attention towards the steps taken up by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrashekar Rao, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this 10 ago.In fact, when Telangana was formed, in the very first session of the Assembly, we had passed a resolution for the Women's Reservation Bill and also for the Backward Class (BC) Reservation Bill. So it was our party that initiated it, but the Congress government ignored it for nine and a half years, but now they couldn't ignore us.The decision to pass the women’s reservation bill in the Parliament was taken because of political pressure. As far as the Congress is concerned, it had to pass a resolution in the CWC meeting that took place in Hyderabad a few days ago.Sputnik India: The bill has been passed but will only come into force after the delimitation. Will this prolong the wait for women's representation in parliament?Kavitha: Yes, it is a little disappointing that the bill will not come into force immediately in this election. It is even unfair to women. The bill should have been implemented immediately, and it is even possible, but the government is citing some technical reasons that are irrelevant and will not affect the implementation of the bill.For example, the delimitation of constituencies. According to the constitution, it will happen in 2026, but it has nothing to do with women's reservation, because it is simple mathematics, because women should get 33 per cent of all seats. But then the government shows it as a mistake and avoids implementing the law.However, I feel that if the government decides to implement it and has the political will to do so, it can start implementing it immediately. The 2011 census can be used as a basis and the law can be implemented.As a woman, I believe that the government is attempting a token gesture by introducing this bill, with the pretense that its implementation must wait for the completion of the census.Sputnik India: Do you think the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill will give the BJP an edge ahead of the 2024 general elections?Kavitha: Not at all. You see, women in India today are active voters and if you look at the figures of the 2014 and 2019 general elections, in many areas, including my constituency, more women voted than men.So women are very politically active and they understand why the BJP has taken up this bill. They also understand why they have not included backward class women and why they are delaying it for an unlimited number of years because after the 2024 elections nothing will be under their control. Who knows if the BJP government will come back or not?So they are delaying the implementation citing two issues - census and delimitation. The census was supposed to happen in 2021, but it couldn't happen because of the pandemic, so they could have done it in 2022 or 2023. They didn't do it, so it's not the women's fault.Sputnik India: The 33 per cent reservation for women won't be applicable in the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils. What do you think about this?Kavitha: Well, technically it can't be applied because it's a completely different system, because the Rajya Sabha is elected on the basis of the number of members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).But there is something else that could be done. Once this 33 per cent reservation takes shape and there are more women in Parliament, then the Election Commission can tell the party that whatever positions they nominate, they should select 33 per cent women, then Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils can get more women.Therefore, electoral reforms can ensure more number of women in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils. We need a pool of leaders and fortunately we have about 1.4 million women in local bodies who are already in public life. So we can elect MLAs, MPs and Rajya Sabha candidates, but political parties should be mandated to do so.We have done this in Telangana by reserving seats for women in agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). So for the first time we have seen a Dalit or Scheduled Tribe (ST) woman becoming the chairperson of an APMC.So if these kinds of reforms can be done from the bottom up and from the top down by the Election Commission, then I think it can work.Sputnik India: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MPs Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel voted against the bill, saying that OBCs and Muslim women, who are under-represented in parliament, were not given any quota. Your comments?Kavitha: It's a valid point and every section of women should be represented, but the Indian constitution doesn't allow reservation on the basis of religion. So there are certain hurdles.In the past, when some states have tried to give reservations to Muslims or other communities, the courts have struck them down.We haven't yet found a constitutional solution to this problem. I think this is one of the aspects we should work on to further enrich our democracy.Sputnik India: Now with the bill passed, what is the way forward for women willing to join politics?Kavitha: Well, all the women leaders I've met and seen, like former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, etc., have encouraged women. So there has to be an intention to reach out to women. Till now this has been lacking, so only a few women have entered politics and fought.But now with the passage of this bill, Indian women who are now more educated and more politically aware will find a way into politics. So the passage of the bill itself is very encouraging, and now it is the job of the political parties to ensure and encourage women to come forward.
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Long-Awaited Change Coming in Women's Reservation Bill: Telangana Lawmaker
16:55 22.09.2023 (Updated: 20:45 22.09.2023) Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (19 September).
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Women's Reservation Bill, which provides for a 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, was passed by the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) on Wednesday.
Although the opposition parties showed their support for the bill, they missed the opportunity to claim credit for its introduction.
With ample support in Lok Sabha, the bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) on Thursday and passed unanimously after a day-long debate.
With the Bill seeing the light of the day after almost 27 years, K. Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, in an interview to Sputnik India, shared her views on the Bill and what will be the way forward for women in politics after the Bill is passed.
Notably, Kavitha had staged a
peaceful sit-in protest in March this year, demanding the introduction of a women's reservation bill. As many as 21 political parties had participated in the protest, along with several women's organisations and representatives from all 29 states.
Sputnik India: Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha. What is your opinion on it?
Kavitha: First of all, we are very happy and elated that a first step has been taken to ensure greater participation of women in politics. However, as per the caste system of the country, there are many sections like Other Backward Class (OBC) who have not been mentioned in the bill. They have not been given a quota and in most Indian states they are a vulnerable section of society and continue to lead a difficult life.
So it would have been really encouraging and would have added to the happiness if OBC women could have found a place in the highest authorities or highest platforms like Parliament or Assemblies.
Otherwise, it is a significant step as 33 per cent reservation will ensure that 181 women will be in the Indian Parliament, a huge number as there are only 80 at present.
Sputnik India: During the discussion, all the political parties took credit for passing the bill. Who do you think should take the credit?
Kavitha: Well, instead of giving credit to any political party or individual, I think the credit should go to the Indian women who have been patiently waiting outside the parliament and assemblies for our issues to be discussed.
If you look, when India got its independence, everyone, including men and women, got the right to vote, unlike in many other countries where women had to fight for the right to vote. So this is one of the greatest achievements of India as a nation. Our visionary leaders at that time worked very hard to ensure that women got the right to vote. So that was the first big step.
In fact, at that point of time, many women leaders who fought shoulder to shoulder in the India’s independence movement had rejected the idea of reservation. They said that in a democracy we will get our fair share but unfortunately, in the last 75 years, women could not get their fair share in the parliament and assemblies.
That is why, after the 1970s, there was a demand for reservation for women so that they could have their fair share in politics. After 75 years, the number of women has not increased very much, so the struggle has continued and this move by the government to reserve 33 per cent seats for women is a big achievement for women.
I say that no one should take the credit, because for 75 years every political party kept women out of parliament.
I would also like to draw the attention towards the steps taken up by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrashekar Rao, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this 10 ago.
In fact, when Telangana was formed, in the very first session of the Assembly, we had passed a resolution for the Women's Reservation Bill and also for the Backward Class (BC) Reservation Bill. So it was our party that initiated it, but the Congress government ignored it for nine and a half years, but now they couldn't ignore us.
The decision to pass the
women’s reservation bill in the Parliament was taken because of political pressure. As far as the Congress is concerned, it had to pass a resolution in the CWC meeting that took place in Hyderabad a few days ago.
With voices rising in favour of the Women's Reservation Bill and the main opposition party passing the resolution, the government came under pressure to introduce the bill at the very end of its term.
Sputnik India: The bill has been passed but will only come into force after the delimitation. Will this prolong the wait for women's representation in parliament?
Kavitha: Yes, it is a little disappointing that the bill will not come into force immediately in this election. It is even unfair to women. The bill should have been implemented immediately, and it is even possible, but the government is citing some technical reasons that are irrelevant and will not affect the implementation of the bill.
For example, the delimitation of constituencies. According to the constitution, it will happen in 2026, but it has nothing to do with women's reservation, because it is simple mathematics, because women should get 33 per cent of all seats. But then the government shows it as a mistake and avoids implementing the law.
However, I feel that if the government decides to implement it and has the political will to do so, it can start implementing it immediately. The 2011 census can be used as a basis and the law can be implemented.
The delimitation has nothing to do with deciding the number of seats, because at the end of the day the census can be the basis for deciding which constituency has more women, so we can take it from there and give the reservation to the women.
As a woman, I believe that the government is attempting a token gesture by introducing this bill, with the pretense that its implementation must wait for the completion of the census.
Sputnik India: Do you think the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill will give the BJP an edge ahead of the 2024 general elections?
Kavitha: Not at all. You see, women in India today are active voters and if you look at the figures of the 2014 and 2019 general elections, in many areas, including my constituency, more women voted than men.
So women are very politically active and they understand why the BJP has taken up this bill. They also understand why they have not included backward class women and why they are delaying it for an unlimited number of years because after the 2024 elections nothing will be under their control. Who knows if the BJP government will come back or not?
So they are delaying the implementation citing two issues - census and delimitation. The census was supposed to happen in 2021, but it couldn't happen because of the pandemic, so they could have done it in 2022 or 2023. They didn't do it, so it's not the women's fault.
Therefore, women across the country are noticing that the government is putting these two issues as the main obstacles and pushing for the implementation of the bill. So I don't think the BJP will gain any political advantage from this bill.
Sputnik India: The 33 per cent reservation for women won't be applicable in the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils. What do you think about this?
Kavitha: Well, technically it can't be applied because it's a completely different system, because the Rajya Sabha is elected on the basis of the number of members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
But there is something else that could be done. Once this 33 per cent reservation takes shape and there are more women in Parliament, then the Election Commission can tell the party that whatever positions they nominate, they should select 33 per cent women, then Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils can get more women.
Therefore, electoral reforms can ensure more number of women in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils. We need a pool of leaders and fortunately we have about 1.4 million women in local bodies who are already in public life. So we can elect MLAs, MPs and Rajya Sabha candidates, but political parties should be mandated to do so.
So yes, this is a good first step, but there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of really empowering women and making sure that they are included in every way possible, especially in the workings of government.
We have done this in Telangana by reserving seats for women in agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). So for the first time we have seen a Dalit or Scheduled Tribe (ST) woman becoming the chairperson of an APMC.
So if these kinds of reforms can be done from the bottom up and from the top down by the Election Commission, then I think it can work.
Sputnik India: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MPs Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel voted against the bill, saying that OBCs and Muslim women, who are under-represented in parliament, were not given any quota. Your comments?
Kavitha: It's a valid point and every section of women should be represented, but the Indian constitution doesn't allow reservation on the basis of religion. So there are certain hurdles.
In the past, when some states have tried to give reservations to Muslims or other communities, the courts have struck them down.
We haven't yet found a constitutional solution to this problem. I think this is one of the aspects we should work on to further enrich our democracy.
Sputnik India: Now with the bill passed, what is the way forward for women willing to join politics?
Kavitha: Well, all the women leaders I've met and seen, like former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, etc., have encouraged women. So there has to be an intention to reach out to women. Till now this has been lacking, so only a few women have entered politics and fought.
But now with the passage of this bill, Indian women who are now more educated and more politically aware will find a way into politics. So the passage of the bill itself is very encouraging, and now it is the job of the political parties to ensure and encourage women to come forward.
