Limitations in quotas

Iyer musings

I have been living in perpetual dilemma. Ever since I grew and started seeing the inequities that exist, just about everywhere. And definitely between women and men. And now that my fights over these issues have become more private, heart of hearts I am beginning to believe that it will take yet another century before this situation can change. If at all.  I am still optimistic that the 33% women's reservation in Parliament, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Amendment Act, 2023) will happen and see the light of day. Some day.

I remember discussing this way back in the late 90s and then it got some shape in 2023. Now it is back to the shelves. Thanks to yet another political plot called delimitation. While young politically ambitious women would have started honing their skill sets on campaigning, speech making, getting quoted in the right forum, they have been stymied again. My dilemma is also whether gender reservation in politics will help. I am wondering how many of the women entering the political arena will think about the right fight.

We have had a woman PM, a woman defense minister, a woman finance minister, but when it comes to the crux, the woman is still the secondary citizen. It is a fact, let us not argue about it. Considering delimitation bill has been linked with the women's bill, we must worry about that too. I am not able to put my head around the arithmetic of it all. There will be many jobs but along with it will be salaries, bonuses, housing and a huge burden on the exchequer. And since money is not being printed when we need it, as I used to believe, somebody has to pay the price for it.

Any guesses about who will bear the burden of the increase in constituencies, their upkeep, the new MLAs, male or female, the new offices. Endless expense is all I can see.

Of course we can also shelve all these worries for the time being, till yet another parliament session, when all the wise men we voted for will discuss what is good for us.

— Lalita Iyer  Sr. journalist & blogger