We’ll be better half: Women

Female corporators welcome move to give 50% seats to them in civic, local bodies

We'll be better half: Women

Female corporators welcome move to give 50% seats to them in civic, local bodies

True to its word, the state government has gone ahead with its decision to set aside 50 per cent of seats in the local self-governing bodies and civic corporations for women.

All smiles: (Clockwise) Jyotsna Sardeshpande, Mukta Tilak, Alka Khade,
Chhaya Gadade, Surekha Pansare and Rajani Tribhuvan

The government's placatory gesture was not lost on its intended beneficiaries across parties, who eschewing all ideological differences were more than happy to be indulged. Women corporators in the city said the move would not only allow them to deliberate on matters of importance but also allow them to make decisions free of interference from male counterparts.

"Right now, 1/3rd of the seats are reserved for women and even if people think it's fair, actually, it doesn't allow us to impact important decisions as our male colleagues dominate most of the decision-making. They also hold important posts which makes it difficult for us to overrule them, but this move will guarantee more women get elected to important posts and we will have an equal say," said Surekha Pansare, a Shiv Sena corporator.

Chhaya Gadade, the only woman corporator of MNS in Parvati, agreed with Pansare. "Women's abilities should not be underestimated. Her efficiency at home can be successfully passed on to public life too," she said.u00a0
Alka Khade, NCP corporator from Vishrantwadi said, "We will get a free hand to take crucial decisions and will be able to prove our true merit," she said. "Men can be spoilsports. Women's role may balance the present chaotic situation."u00a0

Mukta Tilak, BJP corporator from New English School ward, Narayan Peth said with proper training women were capable of doing anything. "It is wrong to assume that a woman easily gets a ticket, if her husband is ineligible to contest elections. Women in rural areas have proved that if they are sensitised, they can change the world," Tilak said.

Though happy to revel in what's been termed a progressive move from many quarters, Rajani Tribhuvan, former mayor representing Bund Garden area, was quick to thank her male counterparts whose "bounty" and "support" was a factor in step. "I am much happy, as the decision was declared on Dr Ambedkar's birth anniversary day," she said.

Jyotsna Sardeshpande, BJP corporator from Model Colony was keen that now women would be able to enforce her own decisions, the move to put up more lavatories for women in public places should be enforced as soon as possible.

"The issues like lavatories for women can be easily sorted out," she said. "Women can make the overall functioning of the PMC much more economical and also effective. I am sure women can set a new trend in the functioning of the civic body by her integrity, meticulousness." Tilak said her party was already dominated by women as of the 26 BJP corporators, 14 were women. Currently, there are 49 woman corporators and after reservation it would go up to 72.