Life Of A Girl In A Village--In Saijang Village, water is very scarce. The villagers have to walk 5-20 minutes from their respective homes to the common water pipe and wait for their turn. Thus a good 1-3 hours is spent daily for fetching water. With less source of entertainment, the village water pipe is the place for the latest gossips and occasional laughter.
Here one quickly notices that 90% of those fetching water and washing clothes are always women. Whereas one can see the boys engaged in more productive activities like playing football!
Unequal Treatment At Homes--Many have been vocal in saying that we live in an egalitarian society. But we see that inequality starts at our homes. Girls spent most of their time doing works which benefits the whole family. They look after younger siblings; they cook, clean and wash clothes. Whereas its an insult for a boy to even touch the broom! But for their hard work, girls don't even get a 'thank you'.
Parental Injustice--And how do parents show their appreciation? Girls are told that she is a 'woman' and hence have to do all these. So for her hard work, girls are rewarded with less pocket money as compared to her brother.
In spite of the household works she still has to pass her exam. But an observation of any classroom reveal that girls in general always get better marks than boys or are their equals!
Inequality In Educational Opportunity--A boy with a 3rd Division is favoured more and is sent to the metros for higher studies. But a girl, even with a 1st Div, will she shown the institutions which are near the house to save money. With high marks she has better chance of getting admission in good colleges buy many parents just ignore this and it is the 3rd Div brother who gets to see places.
Are Healthcare And Education There For Women?--We have various programmes that target women. But a close scrutiny reveals that the programmes which are apparently designed for women are not really aimed at them. For example, it is said that if a women is literate, she is able to educate her children properly. It means that in order to educate the child the mother must be educated first. Thus the aim was the child and not the mother.
Similarly, it is argued that we should give proper nutrition to women because a healthy mother will have a healthy baby. Women were thus never an end in themselves.
The Need For Sharing Power--After studying centuries of human societies, political theorists have held that for a stable society it is necessary that all sections of the society should share in power. If there are vast inequalities, then sooner or later, there will be unrest and revolt by the exploited.
Rationale For Reservation For Scheduled Tribes (ST)--India recognised that some communities like the STs have been discriminated for generations. Son in order to correct the historical injustices reservations were introduced. STs constitute 7.5 % of the total population and accordingly 7.5% in government service, educational institutions and in the Parliament were reserved for STs.
Just think if there were no quota, then will our children with 55% get admission in good colleges or MBBS course? Without reservation, will we have the many central officers we now have? Hence it will be wise to have reservation for women, not because they are capable now but because they can be so much better. Just like we have benefited from ST quota let our womenfolk also benefit from reservation in municipalities.
Proportionate Representation In Nagaland?--Minority communities in Nagaland like Kuki, Kachari, Mikhir etc are resentful as they have very less or no representation at almost all levels of government. Some major tribes are also resentful because their share in politics and state jobs are less than their population.
Basic Division Of Mankind--But various categories like country, state or tribe are secondary divisions. There are two basic categories in the world-these two tribes are 'man' and 'woman'. And the same rationale for proportionate representation applies for women. Nagaland has 19 Lakh persons. Out of this, 47% or roughly 9 Lakhs are women. Is it fair to still say that this 9 Lakhs population need not have any representation atleast in the municipalities.
Merit Vs Reservation--There are views from certain sections that merit should decide who should get the job. As noted earlier, if we can justify reservation for STs, then the same logic applies to women. Just like STs, women have been historically at a disadvantaged position. Some may say that a women will get selected simply because the seats are reserved and not because they are capable. If we deny women their right for reservation on the ground that they are not capable, then by this very logic there should be no reservation for Backward Tribes in Nagaland or STs in India.
Women Not Fit For Dirty Politics?--Some have argued that politicians have to deal with 'darker' elements. They say that politics is not clean. As such, women will not be able to deal with money and gun culture which they say are inherently involved in politics. Instead of making politics clean and transparent, this line of argument is indirectly saying that politics is only for dirty men who can suppress their morality.
Politics is a noble profession which needs men and women of morality and integrity. It is noble because politicians, like police and doctors, live for others. Infact, people who will not use money or gun should enter politics and make it cleaner and more honourable. It seems that women are the right candidate for the job.
Continuance Of Status Quo?--Some have argued that only the wives or daughters of politicians will be elected. It may be true but as long as they are women it is good. It is ok if the first generation are elites. By the second or third term, other women would have psychologically prepared themselves. Regardless of their social and economic standing, a woman is a woman. For example, men can sympathise with a rape victim but women can understand better. If women have political power, certainly there will be meaningful punishment to rapists. Now, many rapists hide and get away under the guise of customary laws. There is thus an imperative need for women to share in political power.
Women's Perspective In Policies--There are other issues where a woman's perspective is needed. For instance, men have no problem if there are less or no public toilets. During emergency, men can attend to nature's call by standing next to a wall. But women cannot. Simply put, less public toilets can be interpreted as less thought or concern for women's need. And it not surprising because women are not even there in the decision making process.
Secondary Position Of Women In Patriarchal Society--Some may say that our Naga society had traditionally been a patriarchal society and hence customary practices should be maintained. But women are in an disadvantaged position precisely because of this patriarchy.
Women being absent from position of power, our history is a male history. Men made war, made made peace. Men alone are responsible for all the great deeds and the stupid things.
Man And Women on the Same side--Women are not aggressive about their demands because their opponents are their father, husbands or brother. Similarly, if reservation is granted, those who will benefit are our own mother, wife or sister. So why should we protest as if foreigners from other countries are going to occupy the seats?
Conclusion--There is a need for women's reservation not because they are less corrupt or more capable. But women deserve reservation because it is an injustice for 9 Lakh women to have no representatives at least at the municipalities and also because women had always been at a disadvantaged position nationally and locally. To correct the injustices, many states have 33% reservation for women in panchayats and municipalities. Some have even reserved 50% for women. What about us?
Lelen Singsit.
Saijang Village,Peren
