The arguments in favour of reserved representation can be simply delineated: Women represent half of the population of a country and therefore have the right to half of the Seats, since decisions made in parliament have a direct impact on their lives.
- Women have different social and biological experiences which should be represented in Institution of governance.
- Women and men have partly conflicting interests.
- Women in positions of power can inspire more women to place themselves in influential and decision-making roles.
Providing reservations to a particular section of community in government jobs and other institutions is generally the highlight of any political party’s agenda these days. Now there have been discussions about providing reservations to women in government jobs and democratic institutions like legislative assemblies and Parliament also. Sometimes one feels that basically the reservation issue is nothing but a populist policy of a government, but still it is necessary to discuss the rationale behind such a policy. Can reservations for women be an effective measure and do the women really require such special treatment? These are the points which need to be addressed.
It is nothing but a truism to say that the present status of women in the Indian society vis-à-vis the status of men is far from satisfactory. For centuries, Indian society like most of the other societies has been a male-dominated one. Perhaps the degradation of the status of women started in the later Vedic period, because in the Rig – Vedic period we have references to many women scholars like Matitreyi, Gayatri etc.
These women scholars might have been exceptions in the society, yet they did reflect upon the general attitude of the society and a relatively good status of the women. But in the later Vedic period the situation started changing drastically with the increased dominance of the puritan and obscurantist ideas. Women’s condition had reached it abyss by the medieval period with systems like “Sati”, “Parda”, polygamy, maltreatment of widows etc. entrenching themselves. Thus see in the historical as well as contemporary perspective, reservation for women seems desirable.
Reservation for women both in government jobs and democratic institutions – would amount to a positive discrimination. But it might foster a sense of inferiority complex among the women that they have been, as if were, provided with crutches to walk on, to struggle in the demanding world. Also, reservation for women, as we have seen in the cases of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other backward Classes, would become a populist tool at the hands of powers – that – be. In the circumstances the intention of every political party is to talk in terms of reservation only, instead of hitting at the basic cause of such an inequality between men and women.
Instead of providing any solution to this deep – rooted problem reservation for women may give rise to social, political as well as psychological tensions. Besides, it is debatable if more women will attend school, college and office merely because of reservation. There are many complex reasons behind the low representation of women in the socio-political and economic profile of the country which a reservation policy cannot hope to tackle, real leave overcome.
But the case for providing reservation to women as a means of providing opportunities to them in a male – dominated society is equally strong. In spite of the fact that the country is supposed to be “developing” in different walks of life the proportion of women to that of men in various fields of national activities remains highly disappointing. Even after almost fifty years of independence and eleven general elections, the 11th Lok Sabah is represented by about 40 odd women MPs in a house of 545. At present there is no woman chief minister in the country and even when there has been a woman CM in the past, it has always been an exception rather than the rule. Also in the other strata's of decision-making and policy implementation the representation of women is as low as ever.
Coming down to the common people the feeling is gaining ground that women should also be an equal partner in the income of the family (not to talk of expenditure!) This changing attitude towards women will get a good fillip once there are reservations for them in the job-market. For women having potential but lacking in proper opportunities such a policy would be highly beneficial.
One feels, however, that when one talks about reservation for women – whether for or against – one does so in the context of urban or at best semi-urban scenario only. Considering the condition of the rural women a policy like reservation, ad hoc as it is, will not have much of an impact. Since independence the government has failed to achieve one of the most important aims of the constitution makers – i.e. to provide compulsory education to all up to the age of 14. The lack of political and administrative will and apathy has resulted in a lack of quality education at all levels in the villages.
While the cult of public schools pro life rate in towns and cities, the impression of the collapsing building of a village schools being attended by a paltry number of students, sitting on the floor and getting “floored” by the outdated teachers has remained intact. The government has to evolve a long term policy consisting of free or subsidized education to the village girls, opening of all levels of schools within a reasonable distance and a compulsory fine to the teachers and parents in showing any complacence into eh education of their students and wards.
Naturally, before taking, such a tough measure the government will have to acquire a courage of conviction – a moral courage – to create a condition whereby the idea of the school – going girls and boys as a source of family income does not exist.
Thus, the upliftment of women, empowerment of women becomes a question of uplift of the society as a whole. Reservation for women can be a temporary sort of relief, as a means to clear the backlog as far as possible but the greater aim of achieving complete equality between men and women demands a much broader political, social and economic policy. Violence against Woman
Violence against women is not a new or recent phenomenon women have been the victims of violence all through the age, in all societies, cultures regions or religious communities in the world.
It is indeed, ironic that in India, which has given rise to apostles of peace and non-violence, women have to bear the brunt of violence-domestic as well as public, physical as well as emotional and mental. After independence violence against women has only grown in all its dimensions. Indeed a few more forms of violence like female foeticide have developed because of the progress in science and technology. Dowry system has been with India society for a long time. But today’s growing materialism has increased its severity which results in a great number of bride-killings every year.
Today violence against women in India has assumed an alarming proportion. According to one estimate, there are about thirty specific forms of violence being committed against women from the pre-natal stage to their death.
Most of the violence against women is related to and grows out of their position in society. If a female foetus is destroyed it is because a girl child is unwanted as she is seen as a burden.
If a wife is beaten, at least partly it is because women are seen as property- to be treated as the husband, her owner, desires. On a broader level it is also because a woman is perceived as the “weaker” sex, dependent on man, so he can bully her.
It is a human tendency to take out one’s frustrations on anyone willing to put up with it or too weak to resist it. Expected to submit to every whim of the man, the least sing of resistance on her part invites use of violence to make her comply.
If she is uneducated, unskilled and economically dependent, a woman seldom has any choice but to bear all the atrocities heaped on her. And a man, fully cognizant of this weakness, shows his power through more violence.
Domestic violence apart, women are victims of public violence more often and more humiliatingly than men. Rape is not just the act of an individual man against an individual woman, a manifestation of psychological aberration.
It is increasingly becoming an instrument a weapon, to prevent women from raising their voice against atrocities. In personal or family feuds or in wars, rape of the women folk has always been a form of humiliating the adversary, clearly signifying the position of woman as property.
Now women, in their own right are threatened with rape if they dare to speak out against injustice or crime. The activist who for instance, stopped a child marriage in Rajasthan was gang-raped by men from the child’s family.
The violence continues unabated because no social actions have been forthcoming. Legislation exists, but is seldom implemented with care or readiness. Indeed those very persons in charge of protecting a woman assault her and humiliate her.
It is not just actual physical violence that is used to intimidate women. Even the threat of it is enough cause for mental agony, and that too is a form of violence.
The fear of being beaten, having to bear the pain, the humiliation and trauma of rape helps to keep women in a state of subjugation.
Furthermore, there is a peculiar attitude in society and, worse, in our judiciary that rape in the case of woman so ‘loose’ character is not quite so heinous a crime.
By a queer inverted logic, all raped women come to be looked upon as ‘loose’ women. Can there be a greater violence against a human being?
Violence against women is further complicated by other factors in society. Caste, religious, communal and class factors also play a role in the violence against women.
Caste was result in rape or molestation of women. So do communal riots. Religious fundamentalism imposes restriction first on women and they are the ones penalised for trying to break out of blatantly unfair and unrealistic codes of behaviour that have no relevance in the life of today.
Sporadically, individual women react, returning violence for violence. But on the whole they suffer in silence.
The effect of violence on women, unfortunately not getting the attention it deserves, is not confined to the women victims It affects, directly and indirectly, the immediate family in which the mother is violently treated either develops violent reactions against the father or is himself inured to violence and gets brutalised.
This quality spreads in society as a whole if it is indifferent to the violence perpetuated on women.
Violence against women is also to be seen as an aspect of the increasing violence in society, as a whole. In that context the causes of violence are rooted in the psyche of human beings-their temperament and the desire they nourish.
There are three basic factors- accumulation of wealth, egocentricity and basic animal instincts-which have caused violence either against women or any group/section of society.
As the race for owning and accumulating wealth increase violence increases. Today most of the world’s wealth has been exploited but material hunger is terrible, and there has been a proportional decline in wealth.
The competition for wealth is excessive and so is the violence. Egocentricity has tempted men to dominate others, including women, on the strength of economic, political and social powers.
One of the major components of animal instincts is the use of force-without bothering about its pros and coins, advantages or disadvantages-for immediate benefits.
Hence, the remedy for violence is no very far to seek. It is within ourselves. What we have to do is to entirely leave the animal kingdom, be human and to give humans treatment to others.
This will be the greatest fight ever fought. But this fight is not between men and women, between men and men; this fights between good and evil a fight between human and inhuman. If we men or women are not ready to participate in this fight we will be doomed.
Utopia apart, however in the short and middle term has to be some practical steps to put a check on the violence against women. Law-enforcing machinery must be trained and made sensitive o the issue.
Women must organise themselves in groups and raise a collective voice against a system that turns a blind eye towards. If not actually condones, violent acts against women.
Every public minded person and the media must contribute to spreading a civilised attitude in society.
United effort can certainly create a public opinion and outcry against situations when women are humiliated by public officials or others with their connivance- this has been witnessed recently in the Saharanpur incident.
Women too have to be persuaded to become aware of their rights and stand up for them. For the more they retreat inside their shell the more ready are the predator’s outsides to seal that shell and suffocate the very life out of them.
Women most help themselves and each other in the fight against violence. But it is in fact a social issue that affects many others and the system as a whole. In a democratic polity and society violence against any section cannot be condoned.
Right thinking men too have to be drawn into the movement against violence. Attitudinal change in society is required if women are to live in the world as free human beings without fear.

Women empowerment: challenges and prospects
It is disheartening to note that the phrase “empowerment of Women” is considered as a mere phase in the multistage process of giving women what they really deserve. The very mention about “empowerment” clearly indicates the upper hand men enjoy in the social structure. But India has come a long way in empowering women. According to Upanishads, the primary duty of women is to be in the service of her husband. We now talk about one third seats for women in the highest decision making body in the country (parliament). India has come a long way. The different phases India took in the women empowerment is here:

Ancient India - Primary duty of women is “Husband Service”
Medieval India- Don’t let women out. Don’t let her express. If her husband dies, she should die too.
Modern India Pre Independence- Guys let’s stop Sati. Let her stay inside the house forever after her husband dies!
1950s- Lets send women children to schools and colleges!
1960- Dowry Prohibition Act
1990s- Women should occupy responsible positions in the social structure 2001- Women's Empowerment Year 2010- 1/3rd seats should be reserved for Women in parliament.
The chart above summarizes the position of women in Indian society at various points in time. Some good Prospects
Let’s talk about some of the good policy steps taken by our government in the area of women empowerment.
Firstly, the move to reserve one-third seats in the parliament for women could probably be the bold and biggest step taken by Indian government in the area of women empowerment. The bill, if passed would result in more than 180 seats in the lower house occupied by women compared to less than 30 occupied currently. This might also produce a “Trickle down effect” where even the state governments would pass a similar bill to reserve 1/3rd seats for women in the State Legislatures.
Secondly, to provide integrated social empowerment of women, the government initiated a scheme called as “Swayamsidha” in 2001 which helps them in establishing self-reliant Women’s self help groups (SHG's).The objective is to achieve all-round empowerment of women by ensuring direct access and control over resources. It helps in creating confidence and awareness among the members of SHGs regarding health, nutrition, education, hygiene and economic upliftment. A number of rural women have already been benefited through this scheme and this project is one of the long term strategic initiatives taken by the government in the area of women’s empowerment.
Another initiative is a program called as STEP(Support to Training and Employment Program for Women). The objective of this program is to empower women by provide sustainable employment opportunities. The project helps in upgrading their skills(primarily in Agriculture, Dairy and Handlooms), forming viable groups, providing access to credit facilities and arranging for marketing linkages . This program has already made a significant impact in the lives of a number of women in the traditional sectors. Many Tough Challenges
As we see, government is taking some concrete steps in empowering women by helping women to help themselves and their families. But are these programs sufficient? Are they brining about a change in the attitude of a patriarchic society? Here are some bitter answers:
• The maternal mortality rate in India is the second highest in the world. India accounts for more than 25% of all maternal deaths in the world.
• In a survey conducted by WHO, more than 80% of pregnant Indian women are found to be anemic. This results in exceptionally high rates of child malnutrition. Malnourished women give birth to malnourished children, perpetuating the cycle
• Only 39% of Indian women attend primary schools. Most families pull them out of out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence.
• While women are guaranteed equality under the constitution, legal protection has little effect in the face of prevailing patriarchal traditions. Women lack power to decide who they will marry, and are often married off before they reach the age of 18.
As we see, the challenges we face in empowering women are far away from the prospects of development programs initiated by our government. Though some of the recent steps taken by the government seem to indicate that these are the right steps to take, but what India really needs right now are sizable leaps! The move to reserve one-third seats in the parliament is definitely one such.
As we progress from a developing nation towards a developed nation, every care must be taken to compositely develop and empower women along the way to stand true to what our great Jawaharlal Nehru said “You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women”!

Women rights in India
The Indian Constitution, in Articles 14, 15 and 16, provides for equality between men and women. But in practice there is often denial of equality for women in large parts of India, particularly in the rural areas due to our feudal past.
Feudal, agricultural societies were based on physical labor, and hence were dominated by men. Women were practically slaves of their husbands, who often used them cruelly. Their lives were marked by continual, unending labor, the kind of labor that was looked down upon and bore the imprint of bondage. She had to cook, was clothes, clean the home, and bear children. It was unending drudgery. She was denied education and cultural development, often not allowed to step out of her home. If she did step out, she was veiled and could not interact with other people unless allowed by her husband.
Industrialization has placed more importance on brains. Physical labor is done by machines. IQ tests have established that the average woman has the same IQ as an average man. Freed from physical labor, women have started getting educated and joining the work force. We have highly qualified pilots, surgeons, educators who are women.
However, Indian society is still largely male dominated and looks down upon women. The birth of a female child is often regarded as a disaster, and female foeticide is common in parts of India in spite the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994. Birth of a male child is celebrated. Dowry is another disgusting practice that owes its origin to our feudal past, which leads the woman to be treated like cattle to be bought and sold.
Indian courts today are flooded with cases of crimes against women like dowry deaths, wife-beating etc.Women have also been divorced as they have been unable to bear a male child.
There is no doubt that women have made progress in the matter of education and career. But the truth is that India is currently in a transitional age, the transition being from a feudal, agricultural society to a modern, industrial society.We are neither totally backward, nor totally modern. Therefore our society is largely male-dominated, and still has remnants of feudal thinking. Even though our constitution provides equality to both men and women, honor killings, female foeticide and dowry deaths happen. Equality before law is not enough. True equality is only possible by means of a complete revolution in our thinking and attitude towards women. This can be achieved but it requires time, and perhaps a cultural revolution.