The Hindu : New Delhi News : Women councillors fear for their safety

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Monday, Oct 01, 2007
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New Delhi

Women councillors fear for their safety

Kunal Diwan

Most of them express concern over their well being and disgust at the way MCD is being run

Punches, scuffles and mike-throwing have become the order of the day in the House
A councillor attended a recent House meeting in padded armour and a grilled helmet

NEW DELHI: The unfailingly chaotic and lawless state of proceedings in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has made several women councillors wary regarding their safety and sanctity in the MCD House. With punches, scuffles and mike-throwing becoming the order of the day, most of them have expressed concern for their well being and an utter disgust at the way the civic body is being run. What’s more surprising is that women councillors’ concerns are on the rise at a time when the Capital’s Mayor, the Chief Minister and even the United Progressive Alliance chairperson are all women.

“A lot of work has to be transacted yet the entire session is wasted. I cannot ask them to behave,” said Municipal Commissioner A.K. Nigam on Monday when queried about the primeval state of affairs in the civic body. Though Mr. Nigam washed his hands of the matter, most women councillors chipped in with their concerns and suggestions.

Vivek Vihar Congress councillor Preeti, who had attended a recent House meeting in full protective gear that included a padded armour and a grilled helmet, said: “Anything can happen here. I just wanted to convey the message that women are not safe in the House. People talk about protecting the girl child in the womb, but precious little is being done to secure women’s well-being in society,” said Preeti.

According to the councillor, if the current situation was allowed to escalate, the only way of safeguarding the dignity of women in the civic body would be to have separate enclosures for men and women councillors.

However, Bharatiya Janata Party councillor Rajni Abbi said the cardinal issue was not one of personal safety but of utilising House time for constructive purposes. Even though the Opposition or any other faction had differences of opinion, there was a protocol that had to be followed in registering one’s protest. “I struggled so much to get elected and I am answerable to the public for my actions. Councillors are paid to work for the public and it serves no purpose if the entire session is wasted in trading insults and exchanging blows.” Dr. Abbi, who holds a Ph.D. in commercial and consumer law, said even during the Gujjar issue, the MCD proceedings were disrupted by warring councillors despite the fact that the civic body had a minimal role to play in the matter. “That apart, I don’t think there is any risk to personal security because women these days are highly capable of defending themselves.”

“The 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies has been made out to be a joke. Even though there are over 90 women councillors, none of them can make themselves heard over the noise,” said BJP councillor and Standing Committee member Meera Agarwal, adding that women were unable to play an effective role in the proceedings. “Even so, I have never felt endangered in the House because all said and done, we are all colleagues and mean no harm to each other.”

According to Ms. Agarwal, most verbal spats had their origin in politics rather than in ideology. “Senior leaders of the civic body should come together to discuss issues and solve them in a civilised manner,” she added. Until then, expect more flying microphones and profanities doing the rounds in MCD sessions.

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