CHENNAI: With elections to local bodies imminent, a group of women panchayat leaders have demanded that the seats reserved for women be retained in the same wards as in the last two years. However, the demand is facing opposition from sections of the women leaders themselves and votaries of reservation for women.

Representatives of the Tamil Nadu Women Panchayat Association say their demand is in the interest of stability and governance. The critics counter the argument saying two successive terms had ensured stability and any further attempt to retain the seats would deprive other women of their chance to take on the reins of power.

While it was deemed that the 33 per cent seats allotted for women in the local bodies would be changed every five years, in Tamil Nadu, this has not been done in the case of the reserved constituencies.

It was in the wake of forceful representation from women panchayat leaders and members that the same seats were retained for women in the second local body polls after the 33 per cent reservation was implemented. The women representatives had then claimed that they were just getting used to carrying on their duties without chaperoning male relatives and would require another at least another five years to make any difference and contribute to the welfare of the village.

"The extension of the second term was essential," says G. Palanithurai, coordinator, Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchayati Raj Studies, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul. "Some of them even had to establish themselves, as they had just worked their way to taking charge."

Convinced by the argument, in 2001 the AIADMK Government headed by Jayalalithaa kept the promise it had made while it was in the Opposition and decreed that the seats hitherto allocated for women would continue to be reserved for them.

Women panchayat presidents and ward members again contested the polls from the same wards, winning by a good margin in most cases. Those women who had proved to be strong leaders committed to working for the welfare of the village, did really well in the polls.

"It is for the same reason that we are reinstating our demand. We believe that there will be some continuity in good governance," says Ponni Kailasam, president of the association.

"We have started a lot of development work in our village and we are now being recognised as a force that can bring about change. We feel that this should continue, in the best interests of the village."

Association joint secretary and panchayat president Rani Sathappan feels reservation of the same seats should continue. Whether she would contest or not will depend on the village's decision. If the community feels she should continue as president, she will. If they want her to be a mere ward member or step down from any post, that too will be done. This way, she says, the community gets to decide who should be their leader even before the elections and other women will get a chance too.

Prof. Palanithurai, however, is of the opinion that the association's demand is unwarranted. He believes that to realise the true spirit of reservation for women in polity, other villages, panchayats and wards should also be given a chance to prove themselves. With the examples set by the women who have hitherto been panchayat presidents, it is unlikely that the mistakes of the past will be repeated.

The debate will rage on until the Government decides, one way or the other. The team of women representatives met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin to press their demands last week.

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