Women MPs demand financial inclusion, education

But at the same time, some women MPs also said that passage of the Women’s Bill was not the only solution, but a part of the bigger scheme of things required to uplift the stature of women in the country.  Belting out statistics, some members said there was a need to raise their strength in Parliamentary Standing Committees. 

Shatabdi Roy (TMC) said while Tuesday was International Women’s Day, nothing has changed the woman who works as a house maid or the one who begs on traffic signals with her child in her arms. 

She said education was the key to ensure women earn as much as men and get their status in the society. “We don’t want a separate seat in the bus, we want to drive that bus. We don’t want separate queues...there should be no tax exemption. 

I want to earn Rs 5 crore and pay my full tax,” she said. Roy said the slogan of ‘beti bachao’ highlights woman as an asset who can earn for the family. “By doing this, she has been turned into a product,” she said, adding she would observe March 8 as Women’s Day if March 9 is observed as Men’s Day. 

Pratushya Singh (BJD) highlighted the plight of women and girls being trafficked. Hema Malini (BJP) said women excelled in multi-tasking and know the art of balancing between home and work. “They work a lot. They are my inspiration,” she said referring to women living in Mumbai who travel to work and handle household activities also. 

Bhavna Gawali (Shiv Sena) referred to the refusal of temple authorities at Shani temple in Maharashtra from allowing women to enter the sanctum sanctorum andd said “while we talk of equality, we can’t go to temples.” 

Ranjit Ranjan (Cong) and K Geetha (YSR Congress) said reservation in Lok Sabha was not the solution but part of a larger effort needed to empower women. Ranjan, who rode a motorcycle to Parliament House on Tuesday, said she was initially reluctant due to the reaction of the media and others. “But I  kept aside these thoughts and rode the bike,” she said.