The Hindu : National : We are committed to providing quota for women in legislatures: Manmohan

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Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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We are committed to providing quota for women in legislatures: Manmohan

Special Correspondent

Women in politics will bring about a revolutionary change in ensuring good governance

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

Towards gender equality: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury interacting with Ministers of other countries at the East Asia Gender Equality Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the government was committed to providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Assemblies and Parliament. Inaugurating the second East Asia Gender Equality Ministerial Meeting here, he said the government was working for a broad consensus in this important matter.

According to Dr. Singh, the government firmly believes that the participation of a critical mass of women in politics at the highest level would bring about a revolutionary change in ensuring good governance.

Referring to the 73rd and the 74th Constitution Amendments providing for 33 per cent reservation to women in panchayats and local bodies, the Prime Minister said: “We believe the presence of women in large numbers in panchayats will make them more efficient, more honest, more disciplined and more responsible, and more effective.”

Stating that India has more than a million women elected representatives in the local bodies, Dr. Singh sought to underline its significance. “The mobilisation of such large numbers of women in our public life constitutes a historic measure for gender equality. It has brought about a significant shift in public policy and in social attitude towards women.”

Besides political reservation, the Prime Minister drew attention to the efforts being made by the government to improve the gender balance in budgetary policies. In particular, he mentioned the fact that the Finance Ministry prepares a gender budget that quantifies the government’s financial commitment to the cause of gender empowerment.

Gender equality, according to Dr. Singh, is a powerful and effective weapon against extremism, fanaticism, fundamentalism, and political and social violence. Describing gender equality as a fundamental necessity for promoting social and economic development, he made a pitch for educating women. “If education of women is combined with financial independence, then their empowerment gets a firm foundation. In fact true and meaningful gender equality will be achieved by educating women, providing gainful employment opportunities and ensuring their sufficient representation in legislative bodies.”

Underlining the importance of economic empowerment of women, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said unless women, who constituted half the population, were able to access the fruits of economic liberalisation, development would continue to be lop-sided.

Referring to the South Asian scenario, she stressed the need for countries in the region to re-double their efforts to reduce disparities across regions and communities by ensuring equal access to basic physical infrastructure, as well as health and education services.

Ministerial level representatives from several countries, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, are attending the two-day meeting. The meeting is also being attended by representatives of various U.N. agencies.

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