When it comes to the Women’s Reservation Bill, pending before Parliament for the last 11 years, history tends to repeat itself with uncanny regularity. As expected the matter was raised in the House today, the International Women’s Day. But it got only a lukewarm response from the government. In the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj bargained hard for a concrete commitment from the Prime Minister. “At least bring a draft Bill in the second half of the session,” she urged. But Manmohan Singh stuck to his “we will bring it as soon as possible” line. Swaraj’s grouse that they have been hearing “this as soon as possible” for the last 11 years had little effect. She even cited the India’s low ranking—108 among 189 nations—in terms of women’s representation in Parliament. “It is shameful, we are 60 ranks lower than our neighbour Pakistan which stands 48th in the list,” she exclaimed, pointing to the less than 10 per cent representation that women got in the 14th Lok Sabha.“That we come low on the league (of nations) table on empowerment of women, is indeed shameful,” the PM replied. “I repeat our commitment made in the CMP to work towards a more seats for women. We are trying evolve a broad-based consensus on the Bill.” And, that was all, he was prepared to commit. The PM also highlighted the “near consensus” that his government managed to evolve a few months ago, till it collapse at the last minute.He however assured women MPs that his government was in no way “burying the Bill”, but “trying to evolve a consensus”. “I reaffirm our government’s commitment to steadfastly work for social, political and economic empowerment of the women. We will bring it as soon as possible.” Women parliamentarians can however gather solace from the fact that Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party—one of the staunchest opponents of Women’s Bill—chipped by saying that her party was not against the Bill.”We only want all women, from all sections of society, to get representation.”The cause however found support from the chair in both houses. While Shekhawat set aside Question Hour to allow women MPs to raise the issue, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said: “On this solemn day, we reaffirm our commitment to empower women socially and politically.”
