People's Democracy

  Time For Women’s Reservation Bill Now: AIDWA

HUNDREDS of women under the banner of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) watched a mock parliament at historic Jantar Mantar on May 4 and chanted NO to any delay in the Women’s Reservation Bill. Placards and slogans indicated that the mood was upbeat and excuses for delay saw pro-reservation members, who were in majority, up in arms against mock parliamentarians.

Thronging crowds and curious onlookers cheered the mock parliament, while even the police watched with occasional applause.

Earlier, a delegation of AIDWA leaders submitted a memorandum to the prime minister. AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman told the gathering that the prime minister assured to try to get the bill introduced in the next session of parliament. He was of the opinion that all parties need to first have some like-mindedness before such a bill can be passed.  Although noting that the assurance has been positive, the AIDWA leader called for continuing the movement given the fact that successive governments have promised a lot and done nothing.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said that in today’s world when courts are accepting petitions from rapists to marry the victims, as happened in Shanti Mukund hospital case, women need to come out stronger in the face of such adversities. They need to be represented in parliament to legislate for the protection of women, she said.

Following is the full text of the memorandum submitted by AIDWA to the prime minister:

On behalf of the All India Democratic Women’s Association with a membership of more than 80 lakh women, most of whom are very poor and who belong to all castes and communities, we would like to congratulate you on the completion of one year in office.

On this occasion, we would also like to remind you of the solemn assurance given in the Common Minimum Programme that your government would pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.  It has come as a great disappointment to all of us that the bill has not been listed for discussion even in the current session of parliament. While we do appreciate the difficulties that a coalition government may face in passing legislation that is not totally acceptable to all its partners, this cannot be a justification for the non-implementation of solemn assurances.

Today, thousands of our members from all over the country have assembled in Delhi to press for passage of the bill. They represent millions of women whose patience is now being exhausted by the refusal of successive governments to initiate even a serious discussion on the bill let alone ensure its passage.

We would, therefore, appeal to you to make a clean break with this attitude which smacks of not only gender insensitivity but insensitivity to the process of making democracy more inclusive and vibrant.  We would request you to place the bill for a thorough discussion in parliament and to ensure that a vote is taken on it.  If this is done with sincerity, the enactment of the bill will become a reality. (INN)