Page 52 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian Years of Indian

Constitution
Constitution

The Constitution of India guarantees, to all son to a daughter. Several laws have been enacted to
its citizens, equality with dignity and freedom ensure equal rights of women. But mere enactments will

from exploitation. It makes no discrimination not suffice; what we need is a change of our mindset.
The true letter and spirit of the Constitution cannot be
on the ground of caste, religion or sex. All are effective unless there is a systemic change to break the
equal; no one is below, no one above. There bond of patriarchy and when India’s daughters are not
should be no ego, no craving. made to feel like a burden.

Women are under-represented in the highest
pillar, safeguarding the Constitution and protecting the
institutions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of
fundamental rights of citizens. I had the opportunity to
the country. Their representation in elected bodies -- Lok
work in all three wings of democracy—the judiciary, the
Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies -- is abysmally
legislature and the executive. Besides taking part in the
low. There was an effort to correct the imbalance in
justice delivery system as an advocate, I also had a fair
the Parliament and state legislatures. The Women's
chance to serve as a Member of the Parliament and as
Reservation Bill or the Constitution (108th Amendment)
the Governor of Odisha. In all these positions, I have
Bill, 2008, proposed to amend the Constitution of India
worked with dedication for the rights of the poor, weak,
to reserve 33% of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha,
backward and marginalized people, especially for the
and in all state legislative Assemblies. The seats were
rights and dignity of women, children and differently-
proposed to be reserved in rotation and would have
abled people.
been determined by draw of lots in such a way that a
The Constitution of India guarantees, to all its citizens,
seat would be reserved only once in three consecutive
equality with dignity and freedom from exploitation. It
general elections. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on
makes no discrimination on the ground of caste, religion
9th March 2010. However, the Lok Sabha never voted
or sex. All are equal; no one is below, no one above.
on the bill, which lapsed after the dissolution of the 16th
There should be no ego, no craving.
Lok Sabha in 2014. Our effort to bring an end to the
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
disparity is only half-hearted and our commitment to half
and rights. Naturally, women are entitled to equal rights
of our population remains unfulfilled.
as their male counterparts. Unfortunately, they face
I am happy that we are celebrating the 70th anniversary
discrimination almost in every walk of life--in family,
of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. I derive
education, employment and in the society at large.
immense satisfaction from this supreme law of the land,
In a largely patriarchal society, most families prefer a
particularly from the Articles protecting and promoting

52 70 Years of Indian Constitution