What women really want

Politics in the name of reservation is not new in our country. We all are witness to it. All our politicians are seasoned enough to play the reservation card. Many governments came into power, and many were dethroned in the name of reservation politics. But the status of the class that is talked about, never changed.

Now, when our politicians realised that the old formula won't work anymore, they started talking about inclusion of a new class--women--in their reservation list. I think, by reserving few seats for women in parliament and state assemblies, these political parties are eyeing for nothing but 100 per cent 'fair' votes.

The recent episode pertaining to the women reservation bill has, in fact, exposed the intention of all political parties of the world's largest democracy. It is evident now that the bill, which took almost 14 years to get through the Upper House, was always merely about vote-bank politics, and never an honest agenda for the upliftment of the other sex. If it is not so, why did these political parties fight to take the credit of who was behind the feat?

I remember, when I was in school, politics in the name of Mandal Commission was at its peak. Back then, you don't know much about the caste of your classmates. But, these politicians did everything they could to make sure all those differences struck back. I hope this time, families won't divide.

Who can ensure that this time, the intention of our politicians is true? The benefits of reservation, as they say, will reach every family. But why must the privilege be bestowed upon Ram Vilas Paswan and his family members, again, pray? Why should Mayawati contest the election from a reserved seat any more? Former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram's daughter Meira Kumar is a second-generation politician who is benefiting from reservation. And this coveted list, already endless, will only get longer.

Who will ensure that the wives, daughters and sisters of big guns don't eat up all the pie? Does having more women in Parliament ensure more of their say? Unlike the past case of caste-based reservation that was more about the number of numbers and largely ineffective for those who were always at the lowest rung of the ladder, will this change, represented by a handful of powerful ladies, empower those that can only trust their promises?

I believe empowerment isn't a top-down process. Gender-specific upliftment can only work when it walks hand-in-hand with good education, good health and a safe environment for all women and the weaker sections. If the chair-bound can achieve that, all women would be able to take up challenge against men anyway. The big job is to build a society where women don't have to depend on men for the opportunity, but can snatch it.