JOIN USBJP depicts women as B-class, C-class: Annie Raja on parties fielding fewer female candidates
Parties talk a lot about giving women more representation in Parliament and Assemblies. However, protests have erupted over not giving women adequate seats in the upcoming Assembly elections. Annie Raja, a member of the National Executive of CPI and the General Secretary of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), spoke to DH's Shemin Joy on why women are not getting opportunities to fight elections.
Are you unhappy that parties are fielding very few women in the upcoming Assembly elections?
First of all, we must understand all these parties are patriarchal in their attitude. There is no difference even in parties where top posts are occupied by women. A majority in the leadership are men and they have a revengeful attitude towards women. In most of the states, we have a 50 per cent quota for women in local bodies. So in many places, I have heard from men complaining that they are not getting much chance. At the same time, men also believe that positions in Assembly and Parliament are more powerful bodies and it should not be left for women.
Is it the only reason?
Not at all. There are several reasons. Elections are a costly affair today even though there is a ceiling for spending on campaigns. For the Left, parties take care of the funds through several means. In other parties, the candidate will have to mobilise finances. So, it is not the winnability but the ability to mobilise funds or the capacity to spend that determines the candidature. We will also have to examine how many women are there in the committees which select candidates.
There is a debate in Kerala over the lower number of women candidates. What is your take?
I would say the parties in Kerala have defeated themselves by not fielding women. Some women who were hopeful of tickets had protested in public. Senior Congress leaders made some comments. Men are now dictating how women should protest. This is anti-women. Then BJP has not fielded a single woman in seats, which it considers as 'A-Class' where its winnability is high. BJP is now depicting women in Kerala as B-Class and C-Class. On the Left, I would say the expectation was that there would be more women in the fray. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The Left should have given more seats to women. The participation of women in any protest by any party is significant. Time has come that parties discuss fielding more women candidates.
You spoke about women's protests against not being considered for the post and comments against them. What are you referring to?
Congress' Latika Subhash had expressed her protest in public. Senior Congress leaders have commented against her for protesting by tonsuring her head as if she doesn't have the right to protest. Men are now dictating how women should protest. They insist they will decide even the mode of women's protest. This is anti-women.
What is the remedy?
The need of the hour is that the parties should have gender-sensitive leadership. Individuals may be gender-sensitive but what we need is the party machinery to become fully gender-sensitive.
But the Left has also not given much seats. CPI has fielded only 2 women out of 25 seats it is contesting. How do you respond?
If you cannot bring more women into the political mainstream in Kerala, where else can you do it? Left should be a model across India. Even the Left also didn't provide adequate seats. In the recent protests against the Centre, it was the women who were in the forefront. It was they who bore the brunt of sedition cases, UAPA cases. How many young girls are in jails? We cannot turn our eyes away saying that they are not in our party. We cannot ignore the fact that young women are leading protests. Their leadership role in such protests should reflect in fielding candidates and even in party positions. It is saddening that the Left has also disappointed this time.
Is it a matter of concern?
This really concerns all of us. This concern shouldn't be the concern of women alone. It should be the concern of the whole party. That is not happening. Party leadership would say that they wanted to give more. There should be some political will and commitment towards gender equality. Only then can the leadership convince the rest of the people about the need of having more women. The advantage of women is that she can tick several boxes at once and help the parties fulfil several criteria. There can be a woman, who is young, Dalit or OBC or tribal, or working in women's group or labour union. Left parties should lead from the front in such matters. Unfortunately, it is not happening. The only way out, I think, is to pass the Women's Reservation Bill.
Among those who vote, women turn out in large numbers. But it appears that they are not pressurising parties to field more women. Is it so?
There are many independent candidates in the fray. But you see very few women contest as independent candidates. One thing is the cost factor. The candidate will have to mobilise money. Only then she can think of contesting. That is one big drawback. When you say that a large number of women are coming out to vote, if you study this trend, you will find out that it is the women from the marginalised communities who vote in large numbers and not the middle-class, urban and rich women. The women's organisations of all parties should introspect. Women leaders fear that they will be thrown out of positions if they speak their mind. So they choose to remain silent sometimes. So she won't assert.
So the perceived inability of women to raise funds is an issue?
It is not just money. One should add muscle power to it.
Do you think a patriarchal society is hampering the entry of women in active politics?
It is not necessary that a man leading a party does not have a feminist approach and it is also not necessary that a party has a positive outlook about women just because it is headed by a woman. Character assassination is the main weapon used against women. There are several things that prevent women from coming out. Finally, the political will and commitment towards gender equality and justice matter. Patriarchal, feudal, fascistic and 'manuvaad' mentality is the problem.
How serious is the issue of character assassination? Does it act as a block?
The honour of the family rests on the shoulders of women, they say. That is why a rapist can roam around freely and even can be in public life. When a survivor enters public life, she is targeted. No family will like to have their women in public life. The women do not have any role decision making in a family but will have to shoulder the burden of family honour. That is a big burden.
Do you think passing the Women's Reservation Bill will help?
It is a huge battle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying a lot of things. The real issue is democracy. But 50 per cent of women are kept outside the Parliament and Assemblies. The Prime Minister does not talk about women representation in lawmaking bodies. 75 years of freedom and we have only 14 per cent women in Parliament. The Prime Minister should immediately take steps to pass the Women's Reservation Bill. Probably, the memorandum received by Modi after assuming power in 2014 was the one by NFIW demanding passage of the Women's Reservation Bill. BJP can pass it as it has the numbers. But there is no response.