The Womens Reservation Bill has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
It may be the most consequential act of lawmaking since independence.
Study shows it will have benefits....... But....????
How far will this reservation empower women and the society?
Questions arises on provisions as they been reported.
The bill seeks for more women in parliament by reserving seats. It widens the choice for the voter to put women leaders in to circulation, it also decreases the choice of candidates in reserved constituences.
Has to see how the bill balances these concerns.
If a seat is reserved for the next round of elections, what incentive will the sitting (male) member have to nuture the electorate?
For the women members to fight in the next election by themselves, will one term of reservation in enough?
The "representative" character of the male candidates who are elected year after year is not questioned with the same intensity?
No one can ignore the money power and favoritism rule in candidate selection.
Will the bill cure that?
For instance If a women representative is elected through the same electoral machine which is relies on black money, backroom deals and influence then what will be the diffence between her and exisiting representative?
The problems are If the reservation policy fails at sufficiently empowering women in that time frame - that failure will become justification for continuing with it longer
Will this end up preventing other bolder and imaginative, ways and means for ensuring political empowerment of women???????????????? Still a big ?????????