Opinion divided on efficacy of 50% for women

KR Renuka, Director of the Chennai-based Centre for Women’s Development and Research said that initially when 33% reservation was first announced in the local bodies, their organisation trained women to come out of their homes. 

“Initially they were proxies for their husbands. But continuous training resulted in today women being on par with men in handling work in local bodies. Though they came for training with their husbands, we allowed only women inside. Today, they are very self-confident and can handle work by themselves.” 

However, she accepted that some women may not be fully functional due to interference by husbands. But 80 per cent are capable of taking up administrative work on their own.

In the 2011 polls, of the 1,32, 458 seats up for grabs, women (ST) were allotted 397, women (AD) 12,106 and women (general) 31,912 seats which amounted to 33.53%. After polls, 605 (ST), 16,791 (AD) and 34,414 (general) women won resulting in the reservation percentage going upto 39.11%. 

Tirupur corporation was won by the lone woman candidate among 28 contestants. 

R. Geetha of Thozilalar Koodam, a NGO, frankly admitted that only 20 % women might be empowered. “Even today, they either voluntarily prefer to be the front for their menfolk. Party cadres ask their wives to contest while they pull the strings from behind,” she said. 

Chennai lawyer Naga Saila was more optimistic stating that 50% reservation was a big step forward in empowerment. 

Women in some cases have proved to be exceptionally good. They were in the vanguard to get water supply and schools – which are not a priority for men.

“The government should in addition to ensuring higher representation for women also undertake capacity building measures for them,” she said.