One of the three current women representatives in the Delhi Assembly, Barkha Singh has said that bringing in 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies is essential in ensuring more visibility and contribution of women in politics.
Ms. Singh, also chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, said: “Active participation of women is a must and that can only be done by bringing in reservation for women”.
Having actively participated in Delhi’s socio-political arena for more than two decade now, Ms. Singh noted that reservation and giving adequate education to women were among the most important ways to ensure that “women have a say in the way the Capital and the country is run”.
“It is not that women are not given the chance to come forward in public life, but it is not easy for them to compete with the big and powerful of Indian politics. If women are given the confidence to excel, they can work very well in public life,” Ms. Singh said.
She added: “Even during the last Delhi Assembly elections, several women leaders were given tickets but very few actually managed a win. This time round, too, we will have representation from women candidates, but it remains to be seen how much of it translates into actual representation.”
She said public acceptance of women candidates was key to their success and that this area needed to be built upon.
Ms. Singh noted that the women representatives have to be given the security to flourish “be it in the area of politics, right to education or family life”.
