For long, women's issues have been treated as issues of great concern and urgency and governments both at the center and states have talked about women’s empowerment and 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies but a very little effort had been put in to formulate an effective system to give equal right to women in the country.
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi propagated the failure of BJP’s commitment on women empowerment in Congress’ campaign in the last parliamentary election to vote Vajpayee government out of power and assured the people that if the Congress formed the government women’s empowerment will be among those necessities that would be given prominence.
However, Congress led UPA government also could not live upto its commitment and drew criticism from various women organizations for betraying them on the Women Reservation Bill by not bringing it in Parliament and demanded the government to honour the promise made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) by introducing it without further delay.
It is indeed extremely unfortunate that the largest democracy in the world is now lagging behind neighbouring states like Pakistan which has 22 per cent women in parliament and even Nepal which has moved for 33 per cent women's reservation in the upcoming elections. It is obvious that only by bringing women's issues into the core of political debate with more participation of women in parliament and assemblies, there can be more effective mechanism for women especially poor and the disadvantaged.
As for the state of Nagaland with its assembly election drawing round the corner, there is apprehension looming over the distribution of tickets especially in the Congress camp. The ball in the court of the senior Congress leaders at high level especially, in New Delhi. They (senior Congress leaders) have to get wise in regard to issuing of party ticket to the deserving and capable candidates including women candidates.
Among quite a few women intending candidates, Mrs. Khegholi has expressed her desire to contest in the ensuing state assembly election from 3rd Dimapur-III Assembly and has been actively preparing her ground from the grass root level. For years Mrs. Khegholi has been involved with numerous social organizations committed towards the welfare of the society. As an experienced campaigner both as well-established entrepreneur women and also as a social worker with full of potential and with age, health in her favour, she is committed to work for the people and chances should be given to those who would really work for the people.
Being the only Congress intending woman candidate so far in the state for the forthcoming election and with the position at the grass root level favouring her, she deserves to be given Congress party ticket.
Congress leaders in Delhi should realize that giving chance to women candidates will prove concern of the Congress have about women empowerment and will also be step towards Sonia’s effort to make 33% reservation for women a reality, which she has mentioned in many platforms.
Giving Congress ticket to Mrs. Khegholi will not only be step towards effort to equip the women to fulfill their constitutional obligations and strengthen the foundations of the democracy but would also be an honour to the promises of women empowerment that the Congress made to the people during elections.
Depriving Mrs. Khegholi of Congress party ticket would show that the Congress is not concerned about women who are equally responsible for the progress of a nation. It would also dishonor the ideology and principle of the Congress that the party manifests to the people.
K. Khutoni Sumi
Purana Bazaar, Dimapur
