Politicians no longer find women a pliable vote bank

Women lament the price rise in basic commodities, a perpetual fee-hike in schools, lack of proper water supply, breakdown in the public distribution system, no proper drainage facility in the residential localities, andinsecurity in local transport.

“What happened to the Women’s Reservation Bill and why are they trying to segregate women into castes and religions?” asked Ammu Abraham, coordinator Women’s Centre. Another woman activist points out how many women candidates have been given tickets that too in which constituencies. “It is truly said that males still want to dominate the society,” she said.

A housewife, Anuradha Joshi says that basic infrastructure is deteriorating and prices of essential commodities like cereals land vegetables are hitting the roof. “Nobody seems to be addressing these problems,” she lamented.

Vimal Bai, who earns her livelihood as a maid, says she will vote for a candidate who promises her that no one will dare break her shanty and promises to solve the severe water shortage in her basti.

The women voters are totally disillusioned with the politicians, claiming that in this election they are more concerned with unimportant issues and are obsessed with mud-slinging at eachother.

Women are least concerned about the foreigner issue’. They want unadulterated food for their children, safe drinking water, proper sanitation, education and proper health care. Neglecting these issues the vote-seekers have exposed their gross apathy towards the women electorate.

When asked about the growing disgruntlement for the party candidates in these elections Majeed Memon, lawyer and SP candidate for the Mumbai North-West constituency said, “Education, and civic amenities would not get priority unless the means of life itself, mainly food and water is made available. It is a matter of shame that there should be such problems as scarcity of water and death by starvation.”

The women’s organisation vehemently oppose BJP’s stance on the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Identifying with her as a woman, freedom fighter and founder member of Bharatiya Stree Mandal, Prema Purao said, “Politicians are stooping far too low and instead of taking on their rival in the political arena it isshameful that they are hitting below the belt.” The worsening political situation and rise in goondaism in politics is a matter of grave concern to her.

Niloufer Bhagwat, legal practitioner and wife of former chief of naval staff, Vishnu Bhagwat, said, “It is ironical that a government which proposed a scheme for dual citizenship for NRIs should now be raising the foreigner issue’.” She added, “It is sad that we are moving into the 21st century with the tag of being the most malnourished region in the world. We have 50 per cent underweight children here as compared to 30 per cent in the sub-Saharan Africa.”

The general mood amongst women is that it is shameful that a country which boasts of the likes of Annie Besant and Mother Teresa should now be raising a hue and cry about a woman who has been a part of this nation for the past 30 years.