The Hindu : National : Left parties have a major role in ensuring quota for women: Medha

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Saturday, Jul 29, 2006

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Left parties have a major role in ensuring quota for women: Medha

Special Correspondent

"Women denied their due all these years"

Photo: V.V. Krishnan

CALL FOR RIGHTS: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar with members of the National Federation of Indian Women who are on a dharna, in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar on Friday said the Left parties have an important role to play in ensuring reservation for women in Parliament and the State Assemblies.

Addressing a dharna by the Communist Party of India-backed National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) here in support of 33 per cent reservation for women, Ms. Patkar said the Left parties had raised their voice against globalisation and privatisation. The people had faith that they would also take up the issue of women's reservation. "The Left parties can come together and impress upon the Government to table the Women's Reservation Bill and also support it to ensure its passage."

Praising the NFIW's efforts in reviving the issue, Ms. Patkar said some political parties had made all attempts to bury the issue alive. "We do not want reservation. But we have been forced to seek it because women have been denied their rightful due all these years. Fifty per cent of the population has been deprived of representation in Parliament and other decision-making bodies by the male-dominated society."

The deprivation was a "well-defined conspiracy" because in the natural course women should be 50 per cent partners in all decision-making processes. "We are only asking for 33 per cent. That too is not being given."

According to her, women were contributing two-thirds in labour but got only 10 per cent of the total income and possessed only one per cent of property rights.

"All issues should be seen through a women's perspective for a more just social order." Women could no longer be confined to houses and villages now; they have a role in decision-making and in the fight against injustice.

Ms. Patkar said land and natural resources were being handed over to multinational companies, while the poor were being displaced to make way for huge dams and power projects. Also, men resorted to communal politics or used money and muscle power to win votes.

"This trend can only be stopped when there are more women in politics and elected bodies."

She denounced the increasing consumerism and commodification of women.

The NFIW activists have been sitting on a dharna since July 26 and it will continue till August 9.

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