The elections are upon us. What better time to discuss women’s issues? We talk to BJP corporator Deepika Arora, prabhag, Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, about the role of women in the political scenario.
What should the Indian woman consider before casting her vote?
Before casting her vote, a woman should have a broader picture of the candidates who are contesting, and also what their parties stand for. Going through national newspapers, television, discussions and debates could be a source of information. Some of criteria she could consider are the candidate’s background, the kind of policies the government will make at the center and how these could affect the society at large.
How easy or difficult it is for a woman to survive male dominated politics?
It was in 1917 when women first demanded representation in politics in India. In 1930, women gained the right to vote. The nature of state or society has a great impact on the extent and effectiveness of women’s participation and political presence. Currently, government reservation for women in politics is making a huge change. In modern politics, entry for a woman is relatively easy, but to reach a position of power is as difficult as in any other field. Even if a woman reaches to apposition through her talent and hard work, it is sometimes related to favours. With faces like Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani, the perspective towards women in politics is changing and I am proud to be a part of a party which recognises people on the basis of their performance, not gender.
What is the role of women in Indian politics?
According to a UN survey of women in politics, India falls in the lowest quartile with respect to the number of woman in the parliament (9.1%). This is dismissal even compared to the UAE (22.5%). According to the 2014 census, there are 940 women per 1000 men in our country. With such numbers, we need to have more women in politics. Women’s disproportionate absence from the political process would mean that the concerns of half the population cannot be sufficiently attended to or acted upon. There is a need for greater participation of women leaders in panchayats and village councils so that it becomes easier for them to enter main stream politics.
What is your biggest grouse when it comes to the political scenario vis-à-vis women?
The political rights of a woman are recognized without any discrimination and distinction and they have the legal and constitutional rights at all levels. However, despite these provisions, women have not obtained adequate and proportionate representation in decision-making bodies.