BANGALORE: Women who have entered the political arena at the lowest rung, the panchayat raj institutions, thanks to reservation, must now try to get past the next milestone of "enablement", former Union Minister Margaret Alva said here on Friday.

The AICC General Secretary, who inaugurated a seminar on "Role of women in panchayat raj" organised by the Central Social Welfare Board and the Karnataka State Social Welfare Board, said it was former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi who first articulated the need for reservation for women in political institutions. "It has been a long and hard battle. Since 1993, when the Narasimha Rao Government got the Panchayat Raj Bill passed, over 12 lakh women have become elected members of panchayats. For 12 lakh of them to win elections, there would be 60 lakh women contenders, which add up to a formidable force that can bring new perspectives to governance at the local level," Ms. Alva said.

She asked the men who had accompanied women participants from various panchayats: "Why do you insist on walking behind your spouses when they go to attend panchayat meetings? Do you feel that your powers have been taken away? Just let them get on with their job; they will make mistakes, and they will learn. You must learn to let go."

She said it is up to women to work for their empowerment. "Its all in your own hands now. You have the power, and how you wield it determines how enabled you are to deliver what you are mandated to do," she said.

She said women must realise that for empowerment, there are sacrifices to be made. "

Minister for Women and Child Development Bhagirathi Marulasiddanagowda echoed these sentiments, and said her entry into politics was accidental.

"I am only six years into politics, and I have made the transition from being a tongue-tied MLA to a Minister. There are many things a woman can do in politics, because of her sensitivity," she said.

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