Women's Reservation Bill - why we need it

8th March , Women's Day! It's around the corner and this is a special one, being its 100th anniv. So of course, everybody who is pc inclined , is bringing out the events calendar and filling it with some event to mark it. Even if lip service or symbolic, or a tired reiteration of an annual commemoration, it's still celebration and that marks it as a special day in our calendars.

This year, with not many hours left to the date, the various forms of the media is filled with news of the impending Women's Reservation Bill. Whips have been issued by some of the major parties and there is hope that it may be passed . This story however has been repeated so often, without making any progress at all, that a certain cynicism greets this eventuality. How is it that when the Congress, BJP and the communists parties are united in their assertion, the Bill cannot make it through? That this display of muscle power and vociferous opposition by a few members, can stymie all efforts by the major parties to make it a reality? This does reveal a major anomaly in the intent and its implementation.

The arguments trotted against its passing, have been doing the rounds for several years so it would be redundant to repeat them. But briefly it's all about the woman being the ' rubber stamp' and the man, normally a relative, holding the controls. This is the most touted excuse, though this is supported by a host of specious rationale.

However, addressing this particular one, I would like to share my view on the subject, based on my experience while working in the field as a social entrepreneur. And why I think such a Bill is urgently required and how it might eventually save Bharat from carving an identity for itself, which is in contradiction to all that our ancient civilization has stood for...tolerance, love for all humanity and the worship of the feminine creative principle.

Because this rampant killing of the female is eventually going to give rise to a completely imbalanced society and one which shows itself at war with one half of its population. Because the rest will automatically follow with increased effect: violence, dowry, reduced resources , lower indices of health, etc. And why would this happen?

Because the woman will continue to be less valued and despite all our lip services to the contrary, the state and the people will collude to keep women at the lowest rung of the ladder.

According to the Gender Index India is at an appalling 114th position out of 134 countries , this figure bolstered perhaps by societies even more regressive and gender insensitive than ours!

And therefore the Women's Reservation Bill is important. It will bring more women into the political process, bestowing all that this is a harbinger of ...leadership roles, greater socio-economic freedom, visibility, negotiation and eventually a message that percolates down to women and men in other fields as well. Yes, let's allow it to be passed once and for all...India and the idea of India needs it.