This story is from August 12, 2015

Call women candidates, and their men will reply

The gender-equality flag will fly high over Bengaluru, with women occupying at least 99 of the198 seats in the new BBMP council on August 25.
Call women candidates, and their men will reply
BENGALURU: The gender-equality flag will fly high over Bengaluru, with women occupying at least 99 of the198 seats in the new BBMP council on August 25.
But the numbers will belie the ground reality. Political parties are already providing the mobile numbers of the spouses of women candidates, effectively curbing their independence.
The big question is: How many of these 99 corporators will emerge from the shadows of male dominance and drive the future of the city?
It’s a matter of pride for Karnataka that it has brought in 50% reservation in panchayat and urban local bodies, while the Bill on women’s reservation has been pushed to the backburner in Parliament.

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“Despite 50% reservation, women will remain puppets for all practical purposes, if they don’t break free,” said former Bengaluru mayor Mumtaz Begum. TOI called up a few candidates to find out whether they would prove Begum wrong. Congress candidate from Jnanabharathi, Kavyashree Manju, wanted her husband to give details of her candidature. “I shall give you my husband’s number. For any details on me, kindly speak to him,” she said.

The men who took TOI’s calls are driven by political ambition but hedged in by the reservation bill. They brazenly suggested that women can only be a reflection of their spouses while taking decisions. “A woman can be allowed to talk as much as she should be allowed to talk. You can imagine the intelligence of a ninth-standard pass woman. If elected, we shall both sit and take decisions on the ward’s development,” said Rajanna, 60, husband of Atturu candidate Shantha, 53, from the Congress.
A few JD(S) candidates were afraid to speak. “My mother is not so well-versed in talking to people. My grandfather and I have worked with the JD(S) as block president and block youth president of Kadu Malleshwara ward. So I will give you any information you want,” said the teenage son of Jayanthi Pai, 44, who is contesting from Aramane Nagar ward on the party ticket.
It’s the same story in the BJP too. Party spokesperson Suresh Kumar defended the women candidates chosen by the party, stating that not all of them can be generalized as “proxies” for their male family members.
“These women candidates may have picked up traits of public representation by answering their husbands’ or fathers’ phone calls. They may also be independent thinkers. Not all can be generalized,” he said.
However, in his own backyard of Rajajinagar, Prathima, 26, who is contesting on the BJP ticket from Kamakshipalya, believes she needs to discuss any decision with the family patriarch. “My father-in-law and husband are active members in the BJP and know politics. If I am elected, we will sit and discuss before taking any decisions,” said the MCom graduate.
Former sitting corporators — Kokila Chandrashekar from Chamarajpet and Noor Jahan from Kushalnagar — see the positive aspects of involving their male counterparts. They believe the support of the family will ensure that grievances of all voters are addressed, even if they are away from the wards.
PEOPLE ELECTED US
We do not object to our male relatives or family training us. But in the name of training, they shouldn’t usurp our responsibilities towards our voters. They have elected us, the women, and not them. Shantha Kumari | former mayor and BJP candidate from Maruthi Temple ward
ONLY SEATS, NO TOILETS
While the government has provided 50% reservation for women in the upcoming BBMP elections, it appears this does not hold good for washrooms for the soon-to-be elected women corporators at the Palike council building. There is only one washroom for the 99 or more women who will be elected in the next 20 days. Neither is there any provision for a separate enclosure for women to rest during the council meeting break time.
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About the Author
Sandeep Moudgal

Journalist by profession, 15 years in the field with Politics and Policy as forte. He is an Assistant Editor with Bengaluru bureau and Karnataka as his jurisdiction. Has a Masters degree in Ancient History and Archaeology from Mysore University along with a PGDJ from the Asian College of Journalism.

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