Women power

This refers to the NDA Government’s aim to pass amendments to “Nari Shakti Vandan Abhiniyam.” With due respect to our womenfolk, we do endorse the views of Congress leaders that increasing Lok Sabha seats, based only on population, would lead to inequalities between the Southern and Northern states.

We feel there is no need to increase the Lok Sabha seats to 850 to accommodate 33% reservation for women, which will only add to the burden of the common man. Ironically, during the past 5 years, we have never seen even an attendance of 75% in both the houses of Parliament. To top it, there are frequent disturbances during the sessions and walkouts and even total washout sessions.

Incidentally, though the Lok Sabha Speaker had announced a paycut for the absentees, we are yet to know the amount of such deductions from the absentees. I feel this amendment should not be hurried. Let the political leaders first nominate at least 50% of their women candidates for the coming Assembly elections to get at least 30% of them get elected to the Assemblies. Ironically, none of the parties, contesting in Tamil Nadu, has nominated even 30% of their women candidates for the Assembly elections.

N. Mahadevan
Chennai