Views of Dravidar Kazhagam on Women’s Reservation Bill
Views of Dravidar Kazhagam on Women’s Reservation Bill
(The following is a part of the written submission made by Dr. K. Veeramani, President, D.K. before the Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Thiru E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan on 23rd June, 2008)
Periyar’s service Periyar E.V.Ramasamy wanted to free women from the cruel circumstances of permanent dependence on men, of illiteracy, ignorance, superstition, helplessness, hopelessness and endless suffering. From the later part of 1920s his Self-Respect Movement demanded the abolition of conditions that made women a fallen lot and giving them rights and opportunities that would make them equal, able and intelligent partners of men.
Through his speeches, writings and resolutions passed at conferences, the first provincial conference at Chinglepet in 1929 being a historic one, Periyar urged the implementation of measures that would give wider opportunities for women and make them equal to men in all respects:
Like men, women should learn and get trained in modern knowledge and techniques.
All jobs that men do should be open to women, including maintaining law and order as police personnel, and defending the country from external aggression as soldiers in the army.
Women should be given priority to serve as teachers in elementary and middle schools.
Government jobs should be equally divided between women and men.
Women should have the freedom to decide about bearing children.
Women should have equal rights of inheritance with men. (With regard to Hindus, Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s State Government enacted a law to this effect in 1989; the Central Government under UPA also made the law in 2006).
Though considered with contempt and ridiculed when they were proposed, Periyar’s ideas became realities one by one in course of time.
Gender and Social Justice
Our submission is Women’s Reservation Bill when finally passed should include provisions for sub- reservation for STs, SCs, OBCs and Minority communities with in the 33 per cent quota. If this provision is not included there is the real danger of the promotion of gender justice defeating social justice regarding women’s representation. Social Justice is adumberated in the Preamble of the Constitution and this principle should be given practical shape through all the constitutional and government bodies. In the prevailing social scenario, it is obvious that the women of lower castes or minority communities cannot politically compete with the upper caste women. So special provision should be made to reserve seats within the quota.
In this context we would like to point out that our suggestion regarding sub-quota is nothing new. Article 243 D (6) dealing with Panchayat states: “Nothing in this Part (IX) shall prevent the legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Panchayat or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at any level in favour of backward class of citizens.”
We urge what is provided for in Panchayat institutions should also be available to the State Assemblies and Union Parliament.
