‘Reservation Bill Will Ensure Equal Opportunities For My Daughters in Every Sphere’

Charu Garg, a Chartered Accountant working with an international corporate group in Bengaluru, thanks parliamentarians for the passage of Nari Shakti Vandan bill. Her views:

First of all, I would like to applaud our law makers to pass this very important ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) in both house of Parliament so that it can become a law. I firmly believe that this bill will lead the way towards nation building at this very historical juncture in our journey as a nation.

Women form half of the world’s population and are supposed to be the key decision makers and stakeholders in the nation building process and progress. It is undeniable and established sufficiently with facts and figures that forums where women have been given equal opportunities and better representation are more progressive and deliver far better results. We have a good example of this in the Indian Panchayat system where we have done quite well in terms of having women representatives in the system; hence better administration for many years now. We find better governance, greater social upliftment, lesser crime and faster problem solving in most of these villages where women are leading the way.

I come from the corporate world and have worked for over two decades in this sphere where diversity and inclusion are considered a business initiative rather than a social initiative. The idea is to have diverse perspectives and brainstorming which result in enhanced idea generation and more effective decision making leading to more profitable businesses.

If we are leaving out half of the total population from participation in key policy decision making platforms, then, I believe we are missing on some very important viewpoints which impact not just these 50% of the people but also the lives of other family members around them as women are the primary care givers and housekeepers in the Indian context.

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We can take the example from our household where both mother and father are the primary decision makers in that small unit for it to work efficiently. Likewise, having one third of women reservation in the parliament would be the right step in the direction to make our upper house, lower house and state legislations more diverse and more efficient.

In the recently concluded G20 summit under the leadership of Bharat, we have shown the way to the rest of world to focus on women-led development rather than women development and this bill is the only right step towards focusing on women empowerment and women led development.

I have two grown-up daughters who are still studying and as a mother I would want for them to have equal opportunity in all spheres of life; education, work and for our state and national policies to be such that it gives them the choice and the strength to lead life on their own terms. With 33% representation of women in the parliament they can be sure to have their voice heard, their interest safe-guarded and their wants prioritized. Reservation in higher education has increased the opportunities for women and the industry is not complaining. Infact, welcoming these women in work force with open arms, I am assuming that passing of this bill will also have the same impact on our society and nation.

I would like to conclude that women have been denied their rights for many generations and many centuries and now is the time when we can correct past mistakes and if reservation for women in various levels of governance is what it takes to empower them right back, then that is the need of the hour. We should support this fully and come together to form a stronger, vibrant and inclusive nation.

As told to Deepa Gupta

Taliban

Women And Men Are Not Equal: Taliban Education Minister

Taliban-appointed acting minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadim emphasized that based on Sharia, men and women are not equal, reported TOLO News. 

During a meeting at Baghlan University, he said that attempts are being made to demolish the current system under the pretext of concerns related to women. 

The acting minister of higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, said in a meeting at Baghlan University that there are now attempts being made to demolish the current system under the excuse of concerns related to women.

According to TOLO News, he noted that despite Western nations trying to demonstrate that men and women have equal rights, women and men are “not equal”. 

“The Almighty Allah has distinguished between men and women. A male is the ruler, he has the authority, he must be obeyed, and the woman must accept his world. A woman is not equal to a man; however, they (Western nations) have placed her above a man,” said Nadim.

He further said that the duties of the current government are to behave well towards the people and provide security and justice, reported TOLO News. 

“This is the responsibility of the Islamic Emirate: to treat the people well. It should bring ease, it should bring good news, there should be no hatred, there should be no differences among the officials, and the second thing is to ensure security,” he said.

Whereas, some professors and students of Baghlan University asked the acting Higher Education Ministry to create a suitable educational environment in universities, especially Baghlan University.

Sayed Sati, a lecturer at Baghlan University said, “The most crucial requirements and conditions that can make a university grow in terms of science and research are the provision of facilities and equipment.”

Moreover, one of the students Yama Barna said, “The lack of regular transportation for students is the first issue. It should be taken care of because the distance between the city and the institution is great. The second issue is the lack of a dorm, which students have experienced for years.”

In a speech at Kunduz University, the acting higher education minister, Neda Mohammad Nadim, stressed the ministry’s efforts to address these issues and expand resources for universities, reported TOLO News. 

However, Afghanistan’s women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the war-torn country have no access to education, employment and public spaces.

A startling 80 per cent of Afghan girls and young women, who are of school-going age, are currently denied access to education under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, a new report by Care International stated, according to Khaama Press.

It has been more than two years since girls above grade six have been prohibited from attending schools in Afghanistan, and it is unclear when those doors will reopen, Tolo News reported.

Afghanistan remains the only country to ban girls’ and women’s education, resulting in a substantial economic toll of approximately USD 5.4 billion. (ANI)

Read More: https://lokmarg.com/

‘Reservation Bill is First Step Towards Gender Justice & Equality’

Shweta Agarwal, a Chartered Accountant based in Lucknow, says the women’s reservation law will lead to an environment of gender equality for coming generations. Her views:

In Hindu scriptures and belief-system, a woman symbolizes Shakti or cosmic energy. According to Indic theological discourse, judicious use of this Shakti manifests an all-round welfare of mankind. A society cannot be successful unless women have a strong voice and effective participation. It is in this light that I consider the Naari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak (Womens’ Reservation Bill) as a historic step.

However, the fact that it took several decades for our political leadership to implement such a legal provision reflects poorly on our electoral college. I congratulate the Narendra Modi government that it showed the courage and will to take the women’s reservation law to its logical end.

I am confident that besides increasing the representation of women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, it will also help in bringing the issues related to women on public platforms. As half of the country’s population consists of women, the reservation of 33 per cent will not only find a substantial representation in the assembly, but the voice of women will become more effective at the highest institutions of democracy. This recognizable share in political representation will also help in increasing their representation in other sectors of importance.

Though the votes of women play a decisive role in forming governments, they are often left behind when it comes to being elected to the legislature bodies. With the passage of this bill, it will be easier for women to take their concerns to Parliament and state assemblies, enabling us to actively participate in the country’s progress.

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Enhanced women representation in Parliament will prove to be a transformative move in upholding the right to participation for women and gender equality in India. This is an important step towards implementation of the sustainable development goals as well as India’s obligations on various international platforms like the United Nations. For, if you empower a woman, you empower a family.

I was dismayed at the reaction of some of the political parties, especially the Congress, on the passage of this bill. On one hand they tried to steal the credit by calling it ‘apna bill’ and on the other they were cherry-picking provisions in it to criticize the ruling government. Now, it is raising questions about its implementation (the process will start after delimitation and population census). Little do they realise that it is this never-ending habit of opposing everything put up by the central government that exposes their real intent to the electorate.

There could be some drawbacks in the bill, which will crop up at the time of its implementation. But all such downsides can be fixed by bringing suitable amendments to the law with time. Let’s at least start the process and put our best foot forward for half the population of the country. This is only the first step towards a journey which leads to an environment that has gender equality. This is not merely legislation, it is a tribute to the countless women who have enriched our nation with their sacrifices, resilience and contribution.

As told to Rajat Rai

One of The First Women Flair Bartenders in India

‘Woman In A Bartender’s Role Defies Patriarchy, Misogyny’

Ami Shroff, 36, one of the first women flair bartenders in India, talks about following her passion, in a male-dominated profession

It was Tom Cruise who got me interested in bartending, at an impressionable age of 13. I watched his movie Cocktail and was star-struck by his ‘flair bartending’ skills. I tried the same tricks by juggling a plastic bottle filled with water. The first time I met an actual flair bartender was in my college, in 2003. After that, the internet helped me know about it all.

I started bartending as a hobby, a fun thing, a new skill to learn. I began working at bars along with a close friend of mine. It was a semi-profession as we were making money and also having fun. I didn’t see it as a career initially. But work brings more work and somewhere along the way I became a career bartender. Today, I have been in my 18th year in the bar industry and I swear it has been an amazing journey.

Flair bartending doesn’t just mean handling liquor selections. It involves: maintaining inventories of various ingredients like juices and sodas fruits and ice cubes, taking care of the hygiene; making sure the stock is correct, not over pouring or under pouring; keeping the counters clean and your machinery (refrigeration, blenders etc) functional.

Next comes your soft skills. A bartender is essentially a people’s person. Hence, the showmanship and salesmanship must blend well – like in a good cocktail. How you communicate, with your guests and your team matters a lot in the din. How comfortable and welcoming you make others feel makes a difference.

And finally, comes your creativity and artistic skills on display. It is this space that one can play, experiment and create one’s own recipes, own ways of presenting and make the whole experience of serving a drink a pleasurable experience. There is more to it but I have listed the majors.

As a female bartender, it has been a mix of good and bad experiences; mostly good, rarely bad. At times, when I did private events at some farm house or a party at an isolated sort of location, one automatically sees one in a vulnerable, insecure situation (who hasn’t heard of Jessica Lal, after all?).

More commonly, you may get stared at for a bit longer than expected or in a manner that you don’t want to be stared at, especially at events where you have more men or only men. This is where you see gender oddity, a lack of comfort. Having a more gender-balanced venue sends better vibes, makes you feel safer and at your creative best.

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Patriarchy, misogyny, sexism, heteropatriarchy are the most major reasons why there is a lack of women in the bar industry. Odd hours, late nights, alcohol, loud merry-making… do not jell with a sanskari woman. Incidentally, I am often referred to as a “bartender with a bindi’. To me, the bindi is just an accessory, part of your jewellery. And it is pretty.

I was once asked if I would like to advise to young women about making their career choice. And I said I don’t want to burden women with more advice than they have already got. Just try things out, girls. Be financially independent, that is most important. Pursue a career that you find fascinating, that makes you curious, makes you want to learn more about it.

Most often you will succeed in a career that you find absorbing and that you are passionate about. That is all that matters and once you choose the path, it is going to get better and better after that. We can’t change the circumstances that we are in and what might stop each person but at least you don’t be the reason that stops you.

As Told To Mamta Sharma