The 33.5% Women Reservation Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha under Congress and defeated in Lok Sabha. It has taken 9 years for BJP to address this issue with brute majority at the dawn of elections. Women are now a political force exercising their franchise independently of male influence. The female workforce in comparison is woefully dismal so also in employment and education. Women representation in the cabinet in Parliament and state Assemblies is dismal. BJD and TMC deserve salute for giving maximum support. It is a saving grace for women that Mamata is the only women Chief Minister in India. What prevented the so called champion of women empowerment to offer that quota irrespective of legislative provision? It is the gimmick of electoral politics to advertise and propaganda for elections. Except for schemes and doles, women of India have no parity in pay, inheritance, with respect to male counterparts. Women need to be treated with respect and dignity in every sphere of life. I dare all the parties as a gesture of their real intentions that at least next time the PM, Speakers and CMs of winning parties will be women. Indira Gandhi till date is the only woman PM of India.
