A woman as CM, but UP is no state for the fairer sex

by Alka Pande Uttar Pradesh tops in cases of abduction of women in the country — it accounts for 18.5 percent of the total cases. The state, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, tops in cases of violence against women too. It is also reported to be the second in the country in cases of rape of women belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). The bureau’s report says UP is the number one state in crimes against the SC/ST. The statistics gain importance in the wake of the fact that these crimes took place during the rule of Mayawati, who herself is a woman and that too a Dalit. Besides, she heads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is predominantly a political outfit of Dalits. Yet, Dalits faced all kinds of atrocities and the National SC/ST Commission strongly criticised the state for neglecting the safety and welfare of the community. Mayawati was voted to a majority because she assured the people of UP that she would improve the law and order situation. The Dalits were happy thinking their status would improve, the women were sure that their interests would be safeguarded. Their dreams, however, now stand shattered. “No one thinks of poor – be it Mayawati or any other party. The politicians think of only power and money and remain concerned only about their own benefits,” says Kanchan, a 38-year-old Dalit woman, who works as a helper in three-four houses in order to feed and look after his ailing husband and four school-going children. Kanchan does not have a Below Poverty Line card to get grains on subsidised rates. She says the authorities demand money to make the card, which she is unable to pay. [caption id=“attachment_196011” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Mayawati was voted to a majority because she assured the people of UP that she would improve the law and order situation.  AFP”]  [/caption] Uttar Pradesh has about 35 million Dalits, of which at least 45 percent are women. These women have neither any position in the social fabric nor a significant representation in politics. In the last assembly election only eight Dalit women were elected from the 85 reserved seats. Even the total number of women in a house of 403 was 23. For the coming assembly polls the BSP has fielded 29 women candidates, which is the lowest amongst all parties. Of these, 11 are from the Schedule Caste. “The number does not matter as there has been no improvement in the condition of Dalit women considering the fact that a Dalit woman is ruling the state with a majority government. They are still economically weak and educationally backward,” says Madhu Garg, a social activist. Madhu works in and around Bakshi Ka Talab area (outskirts of Lucknow) with poor and backward communities. She adds, “The names of really poor Dalit women do not figure on the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list of the government therefore these women do not have cards to get the benefit of public distribution system. This also restricts them to get the benefits of various other welfare schemes of the state and central governments.” However, the political parties seem to be apathetic towards such plights of women. It is not Dalit women alone, the state of women in general is no better in the state. A Status Report of Women by Planning Department of Uttar Pradesh government mentions that in the state the employment rate of women is 16.5 percent, of which 19 percent women are involved in any income generating activity in rural areas whereas in the urban areas their percentage is mere 6.8. In rural areas also about 80 percent women work as agriculture labourers and earn lower wages as compared to what is paid to men. Uttar Pradesh has only eight percent women working in the service sector. Less than seven percent women own bank accounts in their names while 58 percent do not have any account at all. For records, Uttar Pradesh also has a high maternal mortality rate of 359/1,000 and a low sex ratio of 908/1000. Besides, at least 44 percent of women in rural and 36 percent in the urban areas suffer from some or the other kind of domestic violence. Less than three percent women own any property in their names. In spite of this bleak picture of women in a state being ruled by a woman, the issues related to women have never turned into poll planks for any party – be it BSP or any other party in the Opposition. The parties have shown generosity in fielding women for the assembly polls though. The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 46 women and Congress 41 whereas there are 36 women in the fray under the Samajwadi Party (SP) banner. It is a different story that most of these women candidates are related to senior leaders of their parties. The Election Commission has made arrangements to increase women voters, at least. “Women polling officers would be deployed in areas with high women population and two women voters would be given chance to vote after every male voter,” Anita Meshram, the Additional Election Officer has told the media persons.