By invitation, M Chuba Ao : 'WOMEN’S BILL: ANOTHER FEATHER IN PM MODI'S CAP'

 Guest Column 

M Chuba Ao, BJP national vice president

As a young boy he was a dutiful son to his mother. He grew up respecting the power of Matri Shakti. As India's Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji has given a new Namo-Mantra -- the women-driven development journey for India in the Amrit Kal.

M Chuba Ao : 'Modi fan' 

 

Now that the Women Reservation Bill is a reality, India's development journey in the next 25 years will be unique and neo-revolutionary. True, this was the fifth attempt that the Bill has been given the nod by the House of the People, Lok Sabha; but what is most important is that the Prime Minister has shown the moral courage and conviction. 

 It's an occasion to celebrate my party's much popular tagline - 'a party with a difference'. In BJP, we do politics of hard work and performance. The passage of the much talked about Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is more than just historic. 

The Bill was passed after a division of vote in which 454 MPs voted in favour of the Bill while two MPs of a party led by Asaduddin Owaisi were against it. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on Sept 19th, the first day of proceedings of the House in the new Parliament Building, and yes, we could muster an overwhelming numbers for the approval of the Lok Sabha.

 

'Sikkim Express'

Before we celebrate the big occasion; and we put the analysis of the same in right perspective, it may be also relevant to look at our own history vis-a-vis the respect and power enjoined by the women folks. In our country, women have been given an exalted position in the family and the society. This is true for even tribal societies in the northeast. In Nagaland, respect for women is unprecedented. There have been

occasions when even troublemakers and 'goonda' elements would leave you unharmed and untouched if there is a woman or a child accompanying the 'target'. 

 

There are clear signs of changes in the northeast vis-à-vis electing women to the state assemblies. Earlier this year in Nagaland, two women legislators Ms Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse were elected. Both are from our ally, NDPP. This is for the first time since statehood. In Rajya Sabha, we have BJP woman lawmaker Ms S Phangnon Konyak.

 

 

We must reflect here that prior to country's independence, Mahatma Gandhi firmly believed that women have to play a much meaningful role in politics and administration. I believe Mahatma Gandhi was absolutely correct. Writing in newspaper 'Harijan' on April 21st, 1946, Gandhiji wrote - "....as long as the women of India do not take part in public life, there can be no salvation for the country".

 

 

But it is also true, there have been limitations. But this drawback was global, a point often ignored. In the year 1990, the United Nation's Economic and Social Council endorsed a target of 30 percent of women in decision making positions; but this target was not met even by 1999. In many countries, quota system has encouraged election of women to legislative bodies. Some of these countries are South Africa, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Argentina and Mozambique. 

 

From a paltry 5.6 percent women in 1995, by 2008, the French Senate had 17 percent women.

Let us come to the present stage and try to take a closer look at the positive impact of the new Bill. The new law will ensure the participation of women in the decision-making and policy-making in the country in a big way. This also brings us to highlight a few pointers on how the Modi government has served the women population especially the poor since 2014.

 

Since the formation of the Modi Government; security, dignity, and participation of women have been the focus area of the administration at various levels. The Jan Dhan bank account is an example and today 70 percent of account holders are women.

 

Similarly, at least three crore women have benefitted under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. We may also reflect that 11 crore 72 lakh toilets were made across the country which ensured the empowerment of women. The Lok Sabha was also told by Home Minister Amit Shah ji that three crore houses were built for women and 12 crore houses have been connected with tap water connections. 

 

Ten crore families of the country were forced to live in smoke, but Modi ji has empowered women by providing free LPG connections to 10 crore houses. 

The Modi government provided 5 kg free food grains per person per month to 80 crore people of the country. The Prime Minister also opened 3 crore 18 lakh Sukanya Samriddhi accounts, provided benefits to 3 crore women under Matru Vandan Yojana.

 

As pointed out by Shri Amit Shah ji, the number of women pilots worldwide is 5 percent whereas in India it is 15 percent. Truly, this is called women empowerment.

 

All these go a long way in changing the life of women in India in more ways than one. But there will still be a lot of work to be done. I am not referring to delimitation and census exercises. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghawal and Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken about these in the House. But here I would like to refer to 'works' at the social and even family level.

 

We have had a number of prominent and powerful female politicians. There have been a Prime Minister and chief ministers in a number of states. However, effective measures to "increase" women's political participation at multi-levels have proved difficult to enforce in several states. 

'Male politicians' or backroom power mongers have often exploited the 'system' to have wives or relatives elected. These need to be looked into to ensure effective implementation.

Of course, various surveys have shown that the reservation of seats has been a powerful incentive for 'ordinary women' at grassroots level to come forward and try for elected bodies.

 

Final words

 

In the end, I may like to talk a little about the success of PM Modi ji and the Moditva model of development he has given. Some of this confidence has made Bharat - a totally 'new India' today at the global stage. In 2023 and especially after hosting the G20 Summit; there is much goodwill about India today.

 

We are a rising Asian power. This becomes crucially more important given China's rise in recent times and it's 'bad reputation' as well. Under Modi ji, India stands as a 'voice' of the global south and universal brotherhood. There are enough potentials for India. 

Under Modiji at the global stage, Bharat, that is India, has emerged as a key soft power. We have enhanced 'agenda setting capacities'. The Prime Minister had rightly asserted about women-led governance during the G20 Summit and this will have universal impact. 

 

This is what we can call 'The Great (Indian or) Bharatiya Spirit'. This is important to underline today because India has advantages on these. But China does not have. The fact of the matter is there is unprecedented trust of the global community in the leadership of PM Modi and the Indian government of 2023.  In contrast, China is only power-focused and all its assistance to smaller countries was not genuine help, but debt-traps. India has to grow economically no doubt. But the social perspective vis-a-vis greater involvement of women in policy making is more relevant today. 

 

Finally, I will come to what Congress party keeps saying that the Indian growth story is something inevitable. 'Hona hee tha ...", - as they put it. But the reality is nothing is inevitable. You need a politically stable government, you need a government and a Prime Minister who can take decisions and a regime that cares for its downtrodden and common people.

 

 

Prime Minister Modi and his government have all three. The empowerment of women will give further edge on this score in days to come.

 

 

 

(The writer is BJP National Vice President. Views are personal)