There is no justification in keeping women, the half portion of society who play a major role in shaping a good society away from public life. Women cannot be enlightened without giving her space in public life. The various problems faced by women hamper the reputation of the country and its social security. In order to bring to notice this situation and bring about solutions they should be given considerable participation in regulatory systems. The move by the central ministry to give 50% reservation for women in panchayat raj institutions is a major step to this end.
There are 20554 local governing (thadesha) wards in Kerala. The government has decided to redefine the boundaries of these wards. For this purpose the state election commission has appointed a delimitation commission under the Presidentship of p. Kamal Kutty. With the new divisions there will be more than 22000 local governing (thadesha) wards in the state. If there is 50% reservation for women in this, it would lead to a great breakthrough in the case of women. We know that there has already been a debate going on in niyama sabhas and parliament for 33% reservations. But this is not being implemented yet. Even the political parties which say that they would work for the upliftment and liberation of women have not succeeded that much in this matter. In fact only when the political parties implement reservation inside the parties, the reservations in parliament would be meaningful. 8070 candidates contested for the 15th lok sabha. Out of this only 556 were women. If we analyze the women representations in each party it comes to only below 10%. The women’s reservation bill was presented in the parliament in 1996 on 12th September as the 81st amendment in the constitution. From then onwards amendments discussions and debates took place to a great extend but unluckily the bill is still not passed.
In the local governing(thadesha) institutions it is the existing 33% that has been increased to 50%. Accordingly women will be given half of the wards. The presidential status of 500 Grama Panchayats , 76 blocks, 26 municipalities, 7 Zilla Panchayats will also be given to women
By utilizing the 33% reservation many able women came into power in the last election in the local governing (thadesha) institutions. There were women who were able to prove their knowledge and skills in public matters among them. We have witnessed many instances which illustrated that with opportunities improvements are made. But in some cases at least it is true that they were just puppets in the hands of men. I do not intend to say that it is due to the inefficiency of women. But the steadfastness and willingness of women to stand firmly on imparting duty overcoming all protest and negligence is indeed very important
We read that when a young woman became the panchayat president in Orissa the conservatives did not allow her a table, a chair or vehicle, but with the support of the progressive parties she was able to petition a criminal case against this. It is being estimated that 14 lakhs women will enter into this field with the implementation of reservation in thrithala panchayats. It would bring about social upheavals. It is the duty of those women who enter into this field to prove that they are capable of working effectively. Women should gain the confidence and courage to go forward in forbidding evil and enjoining good in society. Safeguarding the safety of women by stopping violence and injustice acts towards them should be one of the achievements of this move. They should be able to have self improvement in the field of education and to improve the other women folk. Even though the voice of women who are oppressed for centauries is heard in most of the arenas, the social revolution utilizing power is definitely relevant. The seriousness of the sense of responsibility should be given more priority than positions.
Another most important and serious matter is that women do not require a progress, in which family i.e. the biggest social organization of mankind is neglected. Even though both men and women are responsible in bringing up a family, the light of it is the mother. Family is the foundation of society. In order to
create a society rich with culture and based on moral values, the family, the first school from where each individual grows and develops should be intact. Share in power should not lead to an escape from the great responsibility of guiding a new generation. Women should be able to balance between family and society and maintain the priority.
Another matter to be given importance is morality. One must be extra vigilant against the after effects of the influence of capitalist culture like promiscuity, fashion craze, uncontrolled sex- consumerism culture, extravagance etc. They should be able to lead a model life. The social revolutions should be made possible through disciplined activities.
Before we receive the 50% reservation with two hands we must also make sure that the backward communities due to historical reasons should get due representation. There should be allowed a reservation within reservation for this group of people. We must realize that reservation is not a concession but a right. Nothing is going to happen by just giving power to the forward and upper class women alone. Even the women from dalith and backward communities should reach the centers of powers according to their caliber. Social justice will not be available until the representatives of those who have no organized setup or power to achieve their rights, reach the centers of power. It is a strategy to put an end to all social disparities and discriminations. Reservation policy has always been opposed only by the upper caste authorities in whose hands have been the strength of power for centuries. Along with the affluent group of society the backward communities should also be considered.
Caste system is an age old problem in India. The Mandal Commission says about caste system:the Indian society is set up on the bricks of caste system. Disparity is the fundamental nature of this social set up. The economic system was also controlled by caste system. The prominent personalities of the upper class brought out puranas and smrithis to their favor. It was those regulations which enslaved mankind. The shudras were not allowed to be literate. If anyone from the lower caste hears any Vedas they would pour boiling lead in his ear. Their tongues would be cut if they pronounce puranas. In short their educational, social and economic backwardness was due to these rules. The details of backward communities as per Mandal commission report is as follows: 22.5, the remaining 59.8 and upper class 17.6. So the upper class is not even one fifth of the Indian population.But they possess the 4 out of 5 of the Indian political leadership. The 34th section of the constitution recommends to appoint commissions to study the condition of the backward communities.
The commissions that came to study on reservation are as follows:
1953 – Kaka kalelkar commission
1978 – Mandal Commission
2000 – Narendran Commission
2005 – Sachar Commission
The pathetic condition of lower class representation has been understood by their reports. According to the report presented in Niyama Sabha in 1983 the muslim representation is only 5.35%. At the same time their population is 21.25%.The upper class which has only 17.5% population has 35.43% representation.
Parties and organizations which protest when women are neglected also do not change their male chauvinist attitude when it comes to women sharing power and law making. The fact that there is only less than 10% women representation in parliament is an illustration for this. The same is the case in Niyama Sabha. More than half among the voters are women. 88% of us are literates. Still out of the 19 Loksabha constituencies only two are women. In 1996 10 women contested. In 1998 and 1999 Mrs.A.K. Premajam was the only woman representative from Kerala. In Kerala Niyama Sabha there is not even 15 women representatives. If we follow the 33% reservation policy there must be 46 women members.
It is in this context that we must analyze the reservation for women in local governing (tadhesa) institutions.
It is not suitable not to talk about muslims who are backward in the field of political representaion when we talk about backward communities. The muslim backwardness has been made clear by the detailed study of all commissions appointed by the state or central governments including Sachar Committee. There is no need to specially mention the women’s representation . What is the justification for keeping the muslim women away from the fight for justice when we know the fact that Islam is a revolutionary movement, and the participation of women was there in every stage of its growth? Islam gives freedom to do anything that is not haram. There are proofs in the Holy Book and the history of the prophet for women participation in social and political areas. For social revolution and women’s empowerment women should be allowed participation in all fields according to their skills. Women’s presence was there in the Islamic history while electing the ruler and also in crucial situations like battles. Women are given a higher position in the constitution of The Islamic Republic of Iran. The article 21 of the constitution says:”The constitution is obliged to give woman her rights in all fields as per the Islamic values.” Since then they achieved the capability to mould a strong new generation. Iqwanul Muslimoon the largest Islamic movement in today’s world has given an exalted position for women. They have formed a strong ladies wing. It is the movement led by Dr.Hasan Turabi in Sudan that fights strongly for women‘s participation and presents bravely the women’s liberation ideas. Since women are not prohibited from analyzing or researching on laws and are given the right to forbid evil and enjoin good, there is no justification in prohibiting women from those centers which implement them. It doesn’t mean that every woman should contest in elections or compulsorily interfere in political affairs.
In order to face those women who have thrown the Islamic ideologies and have liberal ideas and go beyond the limits in the name of freedom, women with moral values have to enter in to the field. It should be made possible through this to oppose those who give wrong messages to society. A golden era has passed in history. In the Islamic history and In Indian history we can find the examples of many revolutionary women- those who fought with no compromise against social evils, the mothers who inspired their children to fight bravely against the tyrants and so on.we have the example of the mother of Ali brothers, Bee Umma who was an inspiration for them to participate in freedom fight; Beevi Asiya who fought for her principles with Firown; Um Amara who participated in the battle along with Prophet [S] and Um Salama who gave the best advice to Prophet [S] at a crucial situation. Women’s social involvement cannot be opposed forgetting them all. Taking their examples we must do our duty as per the need of the hour.
Above all it is necessary to change our social set up in favor of women. We must not forget the natural duties of a woman. There must be regulations and concessions which would make it easier for women to bear, give birth and nurse children as well as organize the family. She shouldn’t be misused in a male chauvinist set up. Apart from the six months maternity leave men and women are in an equal position. Now there also exists disparity in the wage for the same job. The Job assurance project should be encouraged. But it shouldn’t be limited to road works or cable pits. The self employment projects through Kudumba Sree units should be improved. Instead of time bound jobs there should be created opportunities which would make it possible for women to maintain a balance in imparting her duties. I submit this topic in front of you dreaming for a hopeful tomorrow.