Venkaiah hopeful about quota for women in elections

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that reservation for women in elections for people’s representatives will soon yield results, even though mostly men are exercising the duties of women representatives at present.

He was speaking after releasing the book ‘Suttur Srikshethra Darshana’, written by Amshi Prasanna Kumar, published by JSS Mahavidyapeetha, to mark the 103rd jayanti of the late seer Shivaratri Rajendra Swamy here on Tuesday. Earlier, he inaugurated Sri Channaveera Deshikendra Gurukula building constructed by Jagadguru Sri Veerasimhasana Mahasamstana Math at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore.

“Members and chiefs of Grama Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats and also urban local bodies have started to assert themselves. Soon, there will be transformation and women representatives will debate the problems facing the society and formulate solutions. It is a wrong notion that women were relegated to the confines of home to do only household chores. There were times when women played a major role in the society. But, at times, they had been relegated to the background, due to adverse circumstances,” he said.

“Crime against women and children is a shame on the nation. It should not be politicised. Cutting across party lines, the perpetrators should be mercilessly punished. Its a behavioural problem which needs to be addressed on priority,” said the Vice President.

Naidu said the need of the hour is gurukula system to inculcate culture through education. “The present system of education was formulated to suit the colonial rule in India. One should not confuse culture with religion, caste and creed. Share and care is the philosophy of India since ages. India has been the spiritual hub of the world and spiritual institutions like mutts should keep the torch glowing to guide the society. Mutts should strive for a poverty and hunger-free society,” he said.

“Immediately after Independence, the seers foresaw education as real empowerment of the society. Then, without the support of spiritual institutions, the Indian government could not have coped with educational and healthcare needs of the people. The concept of ‘inclusive growth’, often discussed as vital for successful democracy, was propounded by the social reformers of the 12th century, such as Basavanna. The later seers of the Basava Thathva movement followed this principle. They strived to educate the people, cutting across barriers of faith, caste, creed and sex,” he said.

“Around 400 students from North-Eastern states are studying in JSS institutions. The efforts of the JSS institutions to bring the children of the North-East to the mainstream of India can be emulated by other spiritual and religious institutions,” Naidu said.