Imphal, Jul 24: Convenor of the Secular Progressive Front Dr M Nara said that reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State assembly is inevitable to alleviate the position of women in the society.

Speaking as chief guest in the women conference organised by the All Manipur Nupi Marup on the theme '33 percent Women Reservation Bill' at Kangla hall today, Dr Nara noted that empowerment of women is not only for the good of women but for the whole society.

Women empowerment is essential to bring about social justice and development, he said.

Concerning the contention that there should be reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes against reservation for women, Nara observed that such an argument is deliberately being pushed by some vested interests to impede the passage of the Women Reservation Bill.

Observing that women usually pay more attention to details in household matters and other domestic issues, he opined that women legislators and women parliamentarians would be more scrupulous while framing laws and taking decisions in Parliament or State Assemblies.

Conveying his surprise over objections raised by some political parties to the proposed Women Reservation Bill, Dr Nara maintained that such objections would not be able to sustain itself for long as the cry for women's reservation is the voice of all women of the whole country.

Only when women legislators and Parliamentarians take active part in decision making in the National and State level, then the problems and issues related with women can be more effectively addressed through legal means, added the SPF convenor.

Endorsing the call for women's reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies, he noted that it's time to allow women into electoral politics through the proposed Women Reservation Bill.

He also pledged all his cooperation towards this end.

He disclosed that the issue of reservation for women would be taken up in the SPF meeting tomorrow.

Guest of honour of the occasion, Rose Mangshi of Kuki Mothers' Association, said that basic cause of the failure of women candidates in electoral politics is the notion among the people that women legislators are not competent enough to work in the State or National level.

Such distrust of women is a major flaw of the society, she asserted.

Sitara Begum of the United Manipuri Muslim Women's Association observed that even as Manipuri women are praised sky-high, a closer study revealed that Manipuri women do not have any principal essence of their own.

Although most of the mass movements in Manipur are spearheaded by women, they just faded into oblivion when it comes to decision making and hand over the part to men.

Vice-president of the All Manipur Nupi Marup M Sakhi while calling upon people of the State to support the campaign for women's reservation, conveyed that about 100 Manipuri women would be taking part in the proposed sitin-protest in front of Parliament on August 8 and 9.The conference was also attended by the president of the Marup Ibeni Devi and president of Kabui Mothers' Association Kakomlunglu Kamei as presidium members.

Comment