Women’s Bill

In the constantly progressive women’s age, how much is the women’s reservation bill is an honorable move ? Is it to enhance her empowerment or vice versa ? As we know Indian constitution clearly declares that the discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed, religion, race, place & sex is prohibited – so why are we violating the sensible law of our constitution by seeking the women’ reservation in the parliament on the grounds of ‘ weaker class or sex ’, just because at the same time , this ‘prohibition’ has been prohibited by introducing the provision for the resurgence of socially , educationally & financially weak classes ?
Now in 21st century women are neither socially or educationally that weak as they used to be in the past, instead they have been giving tough competition to males in all the fields. Over a few years, woman has constantly been reigning the educational, defence, political & corporate world. When she has the capacity to create a place for herself on the grounds of ability alone, why this hue & cry for 33% reservation ??
Somehow I feel, it would not empower women the way it should. First, our political domain has lots of daughters, daughter-in-laws and wives & sisters ruling various nooks & corners, main forums, side forums. Reservation would invite the nomination & domination of relatives of those male candidates who are compelled to vacate the constituency as it was done in reserved constituencies that Panchayat raj ministry saw the female relatives got nominated by the male leaders. Similarly if a male leader expires during his tenure, his wife or daughter easily gets the party ticket, votes and the seat as well. Thus indirectly seats remain reserved for women representatives through this tendency. Secondly, reservation would diminish the enthusiasm of the elected leaders to work whole heartedly for their allotted area as they will be apprehensive about their come back in the next election. So it will kill the work dedication. Third, is that ‘Reservation never proves a 'Right & Healthy thing' later on as it seems in the beginning. For instance, take the obvious example of OBCs - upsurge layer of OBCs again & again reaps the advantage and the neglected layer remains always neglected & ignored. This can happen with women’s reserved seats too.

It is mere a beginning and politicians have started fighting, arguing and thus getting disoriented from the main issue of women’s political /social empowerment. S.P., R.J.D. are bent upon withdrawing support to the U.P.A. govt and as a result the fear of its shattering down is surrounding. Trinamul congress on this issue is also ready to move against U.P.A. That means it’s a threat for U.P.A. that these parties will shake hands with B.J.P. led N.D.A. In upcoming assembly elections in U.P. & Bihar S.P., R.J.D. B.S.P. are focusing the women’s reservation bill to sieve voters on the basis of religion & caste. Hence the real political empowerment of women would leg behind & vicious vested ‘interests’ are ready to float on . On the other hand leading clerics are also opposing the Muslim women’s move into the politics. This selfishly combined opposition is strong enough to sideline the targets.
In democratic set-up, pandemonium in the Parliament - unruliness and rusticity of leaders show the ugly face of politics. Parties are not united on the issue of Bill. They keep asserting their demands on each other.
New assumptions like reduction in quota in the Bill to address the concern of S.P. & R.J.D. for OBCs & Muslim women making a mock of it. A big tail of denials, approvals, flickering dimensions, suppressed simmering issues have been glued to the lucrative ‘Kite’ of women’s bill. The day is not far off when this kite - soaring high in the sky - is craftily cut by the opposing parties and it will tumble down to be lost in the dense jungle of bushy debates & discussions. Caste based reservation already is enough to provide liberal entries to women and open seats draw the able ones on it. So what is the need of women’s bill ? It took roughly 14 – 15 years period when it was first proposed to push forth the women’s reservation bill & seems will take little time to get pushed back before it gets into the proper form of law.
In view of this , deeply pondering over the every aspect, I feel it is sheer waste of time & energy to enforce the Bill, instead precious time & energy be invested properly and methodically to empower women by giving them more opportunities to work for the society as per their caliber. Women nominated and elected on their own ability will groom the legislatures with discipline & decorum and help it come up with relevant issues related to social, economic growth & the all over progress of the country. I’m not against women’s bill for political reasons as S.P. & R.J.D. are opposing it. But simultaneously, I am not in its favour too simply because I have intense faith in women’s caliber & ability to rise up to the any limits in most of the fields. Woman doesn’t need any such support like ''women’s bill''. She is her own support, own resource to perpetuate her energies & capabilities. After all since 1950, she has been empowering herself amazingly & patiently despite lots of confrontation and opposition, so why in today’s progressive time women’s bill is required ? Women’s bill seems ridiculous to me for today’s educated, intelligent, diligent, intellectual, courageous and smart women. Women’s bill seems as ridiculous as a rubber ring around the waist of an expert swimmer to go ahead. When she has already reached to so many heights gracefully, her dignity should not be diminished by introducing & thrusting women’s bill.