THE SECOND SEX

Women leaders from across the political spectrum lament the discriminatory treatment they face

- PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

ON JANUARY 16, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced the 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme, a promise to give ₹2,000 per month to every woman head of a household, in poll-bound Karnataka. The Congress said it was a guarantee to help women bear the "burden of inflation" imposed by the BJP government.

The announcement has created ripples in political circles, with the BJP rushing in to advertise its "women-oriented" schemes in newspapers and hinting at a separate women's budget and a poll manifesto. The Janata Dal (Secular) legislature party leader H.D. Kumaraswamy recently announced that he would appoint a woman as deputy chief minister if voted to power.

"Make this election about you. Demand politics that talks about your issues, progress, education and jobs," said Priyanka. Ironically, Karnataka, which has 2.55 crore women voters of a total of 5.14 crore voters, scores poorly when it comes to women's representation. Currently, the 224-member house has only 11 women legislators-six from the Congress, three from the BJP and one from the JD(S) and a nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community. The Basavaraj Bommai cabinet has a lone woman minister in Shashikala Jolle.

In 2018, the Congress, the BJP and the JD(S), gave 16, 17 and 14 tickets to women candidates, respectively. This time, women leaders are keeping their fingers crossed. Said Pushpa Amarnath, president of the state Mahila Congress, "We have 109 women aspirants seeking tickets from 74 constituencies. We are hoping to get at least 30 tickets."