In poorest region, women wake up to ballot power

Just an hour’s ride away towards the south of Gurgaon is a region known to be the most backward in Haryana. The Meo Muslim-dominated Mewat, a part of the Gurgaon parliamentary constituency, is witnessing a subtle change with its womenfolk coming out of the confines of their homes to participate in politics.
Everything about Mewat makes you question the Gurgaon growth story, sold by builders and politicians alike.It’s a district where just about one-third of women are literate, leave alone the status of schools and the only colleges. Health and sanitation figures are equally bad. This time around, however, women here are coming to political gatherings in droves. And considering that they make for a 3 lakh vote bank, political parties are not taking them lightly anymore.
Muslim voters dominate Punhana, Firozepur Jhirka, Nuh and Sohna assembly constituencies – all part of Mewat region – which are included in the Gurgaon LS seat. The four segments have a total of 640,026 voters including 294,438 women. Experts feel growth of self help groups (SHGs) have paved the way for Muslim women to become politically active, with many entering the poll ring.
“Things have changed now. It’s not that we won’t listen to our husbands or elders about casting votes. We will listen to everyone but will follow our own conscience. After all, we are not supposed to keep the vote at home,” said Akbari, a panchayat member from Pinguava village of the Punhana assembly constituency. Akbari, 50, is a widow and joined village politics five years ago amid stiff opposition from village elders.
In her 40s, Mohammadi Mewati, from Bondh village of the Firozpur Jhirka assembly segment, was the only delegate invited to represent her block during Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) meeting at Chandigarh on Tuesday. Ramzaan Choudhary, an AAP leader from Mewat, elaborates how the party managed to have a sizeable number of women volunteers here. “You’ll find a surprising change in the turnout of women from this part. We now have more women as our members than men,” he said.