Whenever we talk about women leadership or women in power, we immediately think of a story of women Sarpanch (Elected head of local governance unit constituted on every 2-3 villages). Then we look at it whether any Sarpanch had constructed a road or pond and then the typical question is who had helped her to fight the elections, whether it was her husband or father in law? We have constricted our definition of women empowerment.  Looking at the state of Madhya Pradesh (one of the biggest state of India) half of the posts of Panch and Sarpanch have been reserved for women in Panchayati Raj system. Politically this is a developmental step but if we look through the lens of women’s role in politics there is a need to look beyond the rhetoric. Whenever there is new step taken in the direction of reservation for women, Government proclaims as the political justice done for half of the population. A recent study undertaken proves that in Madhya Pradesh women get reservation only upto that level where they have to just follow the fixed policies and programme without any discussion or argument. Women are absent from that stage and programmes where these policies and programme are formed into action plans for implementation.

In the surveyed posts in the state which looked at the gender ratio of the 353 important posts in the state (including state assembly, parliament, and heads of boards, commission and corporations) 325 posts have men. It’s a bitter reality that in Madhya Pradesh women are constrained completely from 92 percent important posts, where they will really have some decision making freedom in true sense.

Women in Commissions

In the state commissions have been established for social justice and equitable development mainly have men in position of Super-Power.  Out of eleven commissions established by the Madhya Pradesh Government ten are occupied by men. Women commission is the only one in which has women at the post of president and members. May be the reason is that since this commission is mandated to appoint women as chairperson and concerned with women only. Madhya Pradesh State Human Right Commission’s (MPHRC) role is majority on protection of human rights of the people. Madhya Pradesh is one of the three states where the cases of violation of women rights are the maximum, but in MP it always has been male who had headed the Human Rights Commission.  Similarly Madhya Pradesh’s state’s Schedule Caste & Tribes is also headed by male chairperson. In the process of economic decentralization, Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Board holds the role to take decisions related to electricity and power. Today span of its authority is more than Government decision makers. But not only its members but its Chairperson is also male. Madhya Pradesh public service Commission is the only commission beside Women Commission, which has woman member (not president) on its board but again it is headed by male. Out of 11 commission only 3 commissions where we can see woman in the post of secretary or president. This survey is pertinent as Commissions of the state these are responsible and empowered for protection of human rights and social justice. Though in terms of political rights these commissions are considered to be powerful but though in reality postings of the heads of these commissions have been prerogative of the politically elected State Government, hence they remain subservient to the state.

Universities of Madhya Pradesh

Recently the use and importance of Women Study Centre was under scanner and it was decided to close the centre by the authorities. Affiliated to Barkhatullah University, the role and importance of this women center was not felt by leadership of the University. May be it will be surprising fact to find out that that the training, education and research on the women and gender issues will be the least in the state universities. The meaning and sense of Education for and of women is just limited to Home Science and Reproductive Health issues. It is important to point out here that out of 12 universities, situated in MP, no University has women vice-chancellor or even registrars, (even the name of these posts reflect gender bias). Do the policy makers think that universities under leadership of women will not be able to do play its role effectively or there are no women in the state who are able to its role as a vice-chancellor?

In the power and as public representative

It is true that there is major fight for gender equity is in area of political representation. In Panchayats they have got equal posts but in State assembly and parliament, they still remain out numbered. Only 18 members of legislative assembly are there in the state assembly to represent 3.25 crores women of the state. In lok sabha (House of People) out of 29 seats, three are with women members and in rajya sabha out of 11 seats from the state three are women. For almost half population gets not even 10 percent representation probably our political mindset are not wiling to give more. In Madhya Pradesh State Ministers out of 30 ministers only two are women and both of them are given charge of Women and Child Development Department. Not only government but even our society has a mindset that more serious and hard tasks should not given to women.

Women in State Business and Development Corporations

In past few years somehow state’s development is being linked only to investment and construction. Government has willingly accepted to the principal of privatization. If we just total the proclamations made on paper by the various Chief Ministers on the expected investment in the state, 2 lakhs and 76 thousand crore is almost ready to be invested in the state. To manage these resources there are six corporations. In these six corporations there is not a single woman on the post of Chaorperson or secretary or commissioner. We may not have long to wait when we will see that women are completely left out of the this developmental process while we still be telling stories of Indira Nooyi to our children. When will the day comes when women naturally will be considered a leader.  In the same way out of 11 departments and 8 cooperatives have male leadership.

State leadership: Missing women

Participation in Polity is said to be essential for human development. UNICEF’s 2007 report clearly points out that even developmental priorities for women are different from men, and similarly the reasons to enter politics is different for women than that of men. About 40% of women enter politics because of interest in social service. They do not enter politics via party politics way.  Many of the studies and observations prove that the political and economic systems are controlled by men in many societies. Habits like drinking, smoking or playing golf help men to get closer and also help them to climb ladders in politics in organized manner. In Madhya Pradesh the typical male dominated mindset is clearly reflected in the gender wise distribution of authority and power.  Because women are not absent at higher positions in political arena, women get less opportunity to reach to the higher positions. Bureaucracy is unrestricted s of now and in presence of women they would have to change to control their method of conduct and behavior. This is also one of the reasons that they do not want to see women working as officers and leaders.

Madhya Pradesh has huge challenges like maternal mortality, infant mortality, bad health situations and violence amongst women. In spite of knowing the realities Government is unable to combat the same appreciably as women are kept away from the forums which are there to make policies and the process of social justice. This boycott is not due to ignorance but deliberate in this new era to keep women out of political puzzle.

Madhya Pradesh goes behind Afghanistan. Today in Afghanistan parliament there are 27.3 % women while in Madhya Pradesh state assembly women has only 7.8% representation. According to the situation in January 2005 globally 14.3 % government ministries were held by women but in Madhya Pradesh only 6.6% are women Ministers.

No doubt that reservation is subject of controversy in politics but in India benefits which have been accrued by women getting through reservation at local level proves that with increased participation of women have helped in increasing availability and usage of resources for human development. Besides sorting out problems which have direct impact on women, children and teenage girls got priority on its own.

A study from West Bengal show that villages which follow reservation policy have got double investment on providing facilities for drinking water and condition of roads is double better than villages which do not have reservation policy. Not only this possibility of repair of roads is 20 % more in the same villages. 26 % of villages which follow reservation policy (and 6 % in villages which do not follow reservation policy) new bio gas schemes have started. Due to active monitoring the number of visits by the health workers is much higher [UNICEF, State of world’s children-2007].

It is clear in this scenario that in Madhya Pradesh women are represented at two lower levels but in when it comes to leadership where important decisions are made preference is still not given to women. Environment for women reservation in special to ordinary corporations or boards to commissions established for protection of various rights has still not being built. Also women wanting or in need of justice are getting disappointed due to lack of representation of women.

The call for women empowerment is most vital today, but there is glass ceiling under the corridors of power that there is possibility of women reaching out to highest level of representation but they are not allowed to break that glass ceiling.

Sachin Kumar Jain