tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post120268720468393852..comments2023-06-14T15:04:38.420+05:30Comments on Saara Aakash: The curious incident of the dog in the night-timeNikhil Prasad Ojhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038541283659597985noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-10030894424103897622010-04-06T04:17:55.065+05:302010-04-06T04:17:55.065+05:30Reservation at the best of times is only a way of ...Reservation at the best of times is only a way of substituting injustice with inefficiency. <br /><br />It would be much more worthwhile to see more initiatives that would ensure education, jobs, livelihood and skills for women at the lowest end of society. <br /><br />imho.vedsenhttp://www.vedsen.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-9410571795148780262010-03-16T08:23:54.006+05:302010-03-16T08:23:54.006+05:30I too have arguments on both sides of the reservat...I too have arguments on both sides of the reservation issue. However, if pushed - I must say that I am in favour of reservations for women in legislative bodies. <br /><br />I think we can all agree that there is a lot that needs to happen to end all forms of discrimination against women. I also know that mere legislation does not work - one has to look at changing mindsets. That is the only sustainable way of bringng in equity - easier said than done. <br /><br />When we debate the (de)merits of reservation we have a precedent to look at and evaluate - reservations for women in all three tiers of the Panchayat Raj Institutions. That process is now over 15 years old, or three terms old. It has had its fair share of problems like 'no-confidence motions', 'sarpanchpati' phenomenons etc. However, it is also undeniable that in large parts of rural India (not so much in urban municipalities strangely) women leaders are emerging. Its a slow process but it is happening. After all we are talking of overturning hundreds of years of discrmination. I dont want to get into the discussion whether women are more sensitive / less liable to be corrupt etc. Let us assume that they too would have a fair share of bad apples (we can see some of our women CMs to see how they too can 'compete'in the corruption stakes with their male counterparts). So what? This is not a male prerogative. <br /><br />To me reservations holds out a chance for women to get a voice - that itself is a good enough incentive. After all what do the voiceless women have to lose anyway.<br /><br />Let us give reservations a fair chance. Who knows? In a few decades we may reach a stage where reservations are no longer required. That is what Dr. Ambedkar wanted for caste reservations before his so called followers destroyed the concept. <br /><br />Give it a chance. We have tried it all. Why not try this..Makarandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12715531349925365630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-37107010488427146832010-03-15T02:16:46.576+05:302010-03-15T02:16:46.576+05:30You strengthen my argument! The most obvious benef...You strengthen my argument! The most obvious benefit has not even been inunciated in the objectives as defined by our predominantly male body of leaders.Yaqutanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-59987421827979072362010-03-13T22:26:00.105+05:302010-03-13T22:26:00.105+05:30There's no need to assume either motivation - ...There's no need to assume either motivation - the bill lays down a clear "Statement of Objects and Reasons" which talks of 'political empowerment', 'eliminating gender inequality and discrimination'.<br />Read it - it's at page 5 of the <a href="http://www.esocialsciences.com/data/articles/Document12472008550.2347834.pdf" rel="nofollow">bill</a><br /><br />And alas, even if it were for "diversity" - that favourite smokescreen of liberals - enforcing it through reservation? Terrible idea: a poor solution for a non-existent problem.Nikhil Prasad Ojhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16038541283659597985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-39990052709787564222010-03-13T18:38:25.166+05:302010-03-13T18:38:25.166+05:30Am surprised by the almost blatant assumption that...Am surprised by the almost blatant assumption that the Women's Reservation Bill's sole purpose is to better the lot of women in India. The author would benefit from looking at this through a wider lens. <br /><br />Perhaps the idea of including women in the fray into one of the key decision making bodies in India would add elements into decision-making that would perhaps lead to more practical, sensitive and even maybe out of the box and better decisions (forgive me if I sound biased, these attributes are not the sole prerogatives of women, but diversity. Would have argued the same had it been an all-women's body and we were talking of male inclusion). <br /><br />If only he had his wife read and critique it, he may not have ended up with such a one-sided analysis!Yaqutanoreply@blogger.com