The Municipal Corporation will discuss the issue of fifty per cent reservation for women in the local bodies in its House Meet to be held on Tuesday. To ensure empowerment of women, the Centre had proposed 50 per cent reservation for them in panchayats and local urban bodies.

The MC has been asked to discuss the issue and send its views. The corporation has a fair track record when it comes to women empowerment. Of the 15 mayors that the city has seen since 1996, eight were women. The present House has 12 women councillors out of 35 members. Of these nine are elected and three nominated.

Councillor Dr Pam Rajput says since women constitute fifty per cent of the population they should have equal representation in decision-making bodies. “With 50 per cent reservation for women, their views will be considered on every issue. The same should be done in state Assemblies and Parliament also,” she says.

Dr Rajput disagrees with the view that when the seats are reserved dummy candidates or incompetent candidates get elected. She says, “We cannot say that the candidates are not competent enough. It is only when women are involved that questions are raised. Our study says that during their second term, the women are seen to be doing better. Even when their constituencies got de-reserved, those who performed well were re-elected on general seats.”

Councillor Anu Chatrath, who has been the Mayor twice, says reserving seats for women has ensured that more women proved their mettle and gained confidence. Fifty per cent reservation would ensure that more leaders would emerge. Though our system has remained male-dominated, women are now handling social as well as family responsibilities equally well, she adds.

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