Reservation or Representation?

Fight for the Right...

It was said to be the Historic day when the Women’s Reservation bill was put to vote in the Intellectual House of the country, Rajya Sabha... and with no surprises it was passed with a thumping majority... Everybody must have felt so good about it, because the first step was conquered and now the bill moves on to Loksabha... But was it a smooth road to ride? The answer is ‘No’... There was action, drama, comedy, suspense and thriller as well... You name it and you would have it. Exactly as we get in our beloved Bollywood movies...

But that’s a past now... The truth is the bill is passed in the Upper house and moves on for an approval from the other... But here as well it will not be an easy road for the bill... This makes me think that Do Women really need Reservation or do they need Representation? Are our Men willing to let Women the equal rights which we always talk about? Or as always it’s said the oppression of Women continues... I think neither of this is done... There were few people who opposed to this bill on some grounds... There might be their own political interest to it... But these issues make us think... Don’t they?

We say India is a progressive country. Everybody is equal here. Rather it is so ironical to pass Women’s RESERVATION Bill when India, the World’s Largest Democracy is governed by its first WOMAN President; the largest party in the country is run by a WOMAN, for the first time the Chairperson of Parliamentary house is WOMAN and even the Opposition Leader in the same house (Loksabha) is also a WOMAN... If we closely see and follow then we will realize, In India Women don’t need Reservation, they need Representation. Give them a chance and they will turn the tables.

Reservation and Representation are two closely related words. Some say that for Representation in this male dominated area of Politics, Women need Reservation to be part of it. The others say if we give Reservation what is the guarantee that the women enjoying the reservation will represent the mass and not just the class? What is the guarantee that the Bahu-Beti system will not prevail in this situation? It’s a complicated math... But it’s simple as well. We are making this historic decision because we want women representation in the system... But will we get this if we give reservation at this higher stage? The answer again is NO... We must start it from the base. From the root level... India is a country of millions of Villages... In order to give proper representation to women; we must empower those women who can make a difference to their own living first and then to the country. We need reservations in the Panchayats first. It will give a chance to those million women who are capable enough to create a difference and bring in the change. And if we succeed in doing so then this pattern or the system will reflect from the root to the top. So, if we are successful enough in this mechanism, don’t worry everything will be all right. No more dramas no more maths...

For those who want Reservation for Women – the problem is solved... Women will get a chance in the policy making and a chance to govern and make decisions... And for those who say that we need proper representation – all the sections will be covered and mostly all the Women will be empowered... So that means in order to empower them, atleast give them a chance... Just one which they need...

But are we really willing to do so? Is the million dollar question... HOPE you all are listening Madam High Command...