AtT iT uDe thy Al Ti TuDe

Muslim Political Representation: Broken Promise of Inclusive Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 03:34:00 +0000

On 26th May 1949, during the Constituent Assembly debates, members of the muslim community themselves decisively rejected both reservations and separate electorates for muslims. They concluded that muslims would have adequate representation without the need for separate electoral provisions. This reflected a shared vision of unity and inclusiveness across diverse communities.

However, the reality over the last four decades tells a different story. Muslim communities across India have struggled with their political identities, both as voters and as elected representatives. Although muslims constitute approximately 14.5% of India’s population, their representation in legislative assemblies and Parliament remains disproportionately low. This underrepresentation has only worsened amid the current political climate and the rising influence of the hindutva narrative.

Contrary to the BJP-RSS portrayal of congress as a "muslim party," muslims have not voted uniformly for any single party for at least 40 years. This narrative is a political strategy benefiting BJP-RSS. The decline of congress has led many muslims to align with regional parties that have taken up minority issues and interests more assertively.

In states like Karnataka, which historically had strong muslim leadership and representation, there has been a steady decline in the number of muslim candidates receiving tickets from all political parties. While "winnability" is often cited as the reason, the real factor appears to be the fear of consolidating hindu votes against muslim candidates, driven by the vocal BJP-RSS hindutva agenda and a lack of moral courage among congress leaders in Karnataka to counter these anti-constitutional forces.

In the last assembly elections, congress allotted just 15 tickets to muslim candidates and one in a by-election, with 10 of these candidates winning, many multiple times. For a community constituting nearly 15% of the population and historically loyal to congress in Karnataka, this marginalization amounts to a betrayal. Recent remarks by Minister S.S. Mallikarjun questioning Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s demand for a muslim candidate’s ticket, following the vacancy created by the passing of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, exemplify this troubling attitude of exclusion. Such singling out of community leaders’ disrespects muslim voters who have loyally supported Shamanur Shivashankarappa for decades, often at the cost of their own political ambitions.

The reluctance of hindu congress leaders to support muslim candidates exposes a fragile leadership structure. When muslim leaders work hard to elect hindu congress candidates, the absence of reciprocal support highlights deepening organizational flaws within the party.

Even in muslim-majority constituencies like Davanagere south, if congress fields a hindu candidate or a relative of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, it signals discomfort with social justice issues and a lack of ideological clarity. Congress must recognize that succumbing to the BJP-RSS hindutva rhetoric it risks losing its identity as an inclusive party committed to challenging injustice.

With 140 MLAs and a strong government, congress has a historic opportunity to deliver justice to OBCs, dalits, muslims, and women by ensuring fair representation and opportunities. If it fails, the chance for meaningful change may never come again. It is time for hindu congress leaders to stop treating muslims as mere vote banks and begin sharing power genuinely.

Revisiting the ideals debated during the Constituent Assembly may awaken conscience and strengthen the resolve of Karnataka congress leaders.

Kavitha Reddy, Political Commentator

Belchhi 1977, Sasaram 2025: The People’s War for Democracy

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:29:00 +0000

Elections are not a festival of power. They are the sacred voice of the people — the ordinary farmer, the teacher, the labourers, the woman who walks miles to cast her vote. Babasaheb Ambedkar ensured that every Indian, regardless of caste, class, gender or religion, had one equal weapon — their vote. He gave us dignity through democracy.

But what happens when that very vote is stolen? What happens when citizens are reduced to ghosts in their own democracy? That is the India we are staring at today.

The Great Voter List Scam

In Bihar alone, a staggering 65 lakh names were wiped out from voter lists by the Election Commission — not by accident, but without due process. Imagine what that means: a Dalit farmer reaching his polling booth after walking 5 km, only to be told, “Your name doesn’t exist.” A widow in a small village, voting for 30 years, suddenly erased. This is not democracy. This is mass disenfranchisement.

Rahul Gandhi, armed with meticulous data and years of groundwork, has dragged this truth into the national spotlight. His voice is the echo of crores of Indians whose names have been deleted, their existence denied, their power stolen.

History Repeats Itself

On 13th August 1977, Indira Gandhi rode an elephant into Belchhi, Bihar, standing with the oppressed after a brutal massacre. It was not just a visit — it was a political thunderclap that realigned India’s politics.

Now, 48 years later, Rahul Gandhi begins his yatra from Sasaram — a mere 212 kilometers away — fighting not just for seats or power, but for the very survival of India’s democracy. If Belchhi was about oppressed voices crying for justice, Sasaram is about citizens demanding the right to exist on their own voter rolls.

This is no less than Rahul Gandhi’s Belchhi moment.

A Democracy in Chains

For the last decade, the BJP has hollowed out India’s democratic institutions. The Election Commission, meant to be the guardian of fairness, now stands accused of stealing voices. Parliament has been bulldozed into silence, where opposition MPs are suspended and citizens’ issues ignored. Courts are under pressure. Media is muzzled. This is not democracy, this is dictatorship wearing the mask of elections.

The Voice That Refuses to Die

Rahul Gandhi has emerged as the stubborn voice of the people, whether in Parliament or on the streets. Against relentless attacks, disqualification, and vilification, he has refused to be silenced. His yatra is not just a political campaign — it is a war cry for every Indian whose name was deleted, whose vote was stolen, whose dignity was denied.

The Call to Every Indian

The real question is this: If they can delete 65 lakh names in Bihar today, what stops them from deleting yours tomorrow?

Every Indian must ask themselves — is democracy only about results on TV screens? Or is it about the power of each citizen to shape the future?

Rahul Gandhi’s march from Sasaram is not his fight alone. It is the people’s fight. The choice is clear — rise and defend your vote, or remain silent and watch democracy be reduced to ashes.

From Belchhi in 1977 to Sasaram in 2025, the message is the same: the people’s voice cannot, and will not, be erased.

Kavitha Reddy - Kaagaz Foundation www.kavithareddy.in

Beyond Guarantee Schemes; Need for Guaranteed Reforms & Progressive Policies

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:00:00 +0000

The Congress government in Karnataka completes 27 months marred by constant criticism and multiple power centers dragging the party and government in different directions. Lack of strong narrative beyond the tag of Guarantee Sarkara is damaging Congress's ability to counter even the weakest opposition effectively.

As a progressive state Karnataka government has to do a lot more to address the persisting employment issues and the increasing gender gap. Even as Karnataka continues to be one of the largest contributors to the GST and has the highest per capita income in the country, some key question on inclusiveness has to be raised, not in comparison with other states but how it can lead change:

- what is the per capita income excluding Bengaluru

- what is the per capita income excluding the top 5% of the wealthiest

- what is the per capita income of women

These three critical questions can help in re-strategizing Karnataka’s development programs with a class, gender and region lens.

Unemployment vs Employment:

Competitive land acquisitions offered to attract industries without assessing the actual level of employment the industries are going to provide for the local population is leading to massive migrated workforce from other states. With increase in the education levels in Karnataka and in most southern states there are less takers for the low-end factory jobs, and this mismatch is also contributing to the decline in Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR). With young people choosing higher studies over low-level jobs, the question arises on what the government is doing to meet the growing job demands of aspiring more educated and qualified youth.

Unfortunately, Karnataka unlike Tamil Nadu has been Bengaluru focused and has constantly failed in creating multiple functional industrial zones across the state, thereby forcing people to migrate to Bengaluru, which is only getting less attractive as the wages are actually determined by the migrated job seekers from other states.

Skill Development & Labour Reforms:

Moving away Skill Development from Labour Department for power balancing has been a huge strategic mistake. Yuva Nidhi one of the guarantee schemes, that could have been more impactful if unemployed youth were connected to the industry as paid interns to learn the necessary skills, with Labour Department & Skill Development Corporation monitoring the progress, instead its a direct transfer of the scheme amount without adding any learning value to the youth in the process. What could have been a massive employment engagement program with the industry has just ended up as payment to stay unemployed.

Union government constantly tweaking the labour laws and relaxing the provision in favor of the industry will lead to higher employment in the informal sector, the decline in the labour participation in agriculture has not moved the needle to increase employment in the formal sector either.

With some initiatives by the State Labour Department for unorganized sector to provide medical and accident insurance cover, the concern over how to address a social security as people in unorganized sector become older remains a major challenged that is not even part of any discussions today.

Poverty in India is an intersection of caste, gender, region, education and also wages, a robust policy of Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) for hiring women, OBC, SC & ST community youth, in addition to the proposed increase minimum wages by the Labour Department, and ELI has to be implemented to improve inclusion of caste and gender without diluting the objective and shredding tokenism.

Governments have been the biggest defaulter of labour policy related to contract employees, and Guarantee Sarkara has an opportunity to re-look at its own contract labour policy including Asha and NHRM workers and implement a lucrative social security policy and stop terminating them after years of service in the same role and then remove them with empty hands.

Gender Justice:

Unpaid care & domestic work has been a major concern when gender equality is assessed, while most work done by men is considered productive and paid, how to compute the value of unpaid care & domestic work done by women remains unanswered. According to UN women’s unpaid care & domestic work accounts upto 39% of the GDP, and in India the 2023 SBI report pegged it at 7.5% of GDP, which translates to Rs 22.7 lakh crore.

Karnataka’s successfully implemented gruhalakshmi scheme has an opportunity to convert the scheme as wages for the unpaid care & domestic work done by women in the household extending it to all women above 22 years, thereby economically recognizing the unpaid care & domestic work women are engaged in. This revolutionary step can change the way women participation is seen in the economy of the state.

Governments by and large have linked most of the welfare programs to improve economic conditions of households, which have not necessarily resulted in improving the condition of women, but targeted intervention programs for women in health, education and nutrition and MGNREGA schemes have been effective comparatively.

Women were largely involved in agriculture labour, the steady decline is due to increase of mechanization in agricultural sector and increase in education levels, hence government is duty bound to address the decline in women LFPR and implement policies to connect women to formal employment. Free bus service under the Shakti scheme has been a huge hit, with over 5000 million rides by women, and if women are traveling to work has the LFPR increased remains an unanswered question. With industries mostly centered around Bengaluru providing working women hostels for age group of 18 to 25 years in and around the industrial townships, similar to the initiative by Tamil Nadu, helping them migrate with secured accommodation will push the LFPR and increase participation of women in the formal employment.

Karnataka needs to move from being gender sensitive towards gender transformative by strategically investing in women through transparent gender budgeting and also increasing women workforce to 33% and eventually to 50% in the government jobs itself as a progressive and gender equity focused state.

Kavitha Reddy, Trustee Kaagaz Foundation

Celebrating Yatnal expulsion from BJP shows political bankruptcy of Congress!

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:09:00 +0000

Published in - Bangalore Mail

‘War is won in the barracks not on battlefields’ a quote that emphasis on strategy, and that’s what BJP top leadership has been doing for a decade now.

Expelling kattar hindutvavadi Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, sidelining RSS man KS Eshwarappa, denying ticket to hindutva firebrands like Ananth Kumar and Pratap Shima are not some ad hoc or desperate decisions, it’s a well-planned long-term strategy of BJP top leadership.

Ouster of Yatnal BJP has neutralised the anti-minority, anti-constitution and BJP infighting narrative that Congress was running in Karnataka, importantly it also sent out a message to the surrounding states that is going to polls next year.

BJP through its minority wing announced distribution of 32 lac Eid kits to muslim families, BJP across south of India are organizing iftar parties in small targeted groups, even BJP Tamil Nadu chief Annamalai organised a grand iftar party recently. Rekha Gupta the new chief minister of Delhi who is close to RSS shocked social media by saying there is ram in ramazan and ali in diwali, and called for harmony.

History shows that every regional party in India has done business with BJP and BJP in return has finished or broke many of them. In most states for over 3 decades Congress has been depending on regional alliance and fights elections on its own strength only in 7-8 states, whereas BJP fights elections on its own in most all states and has alliance only in 5-6 states.

BJP top leadership decisions are not only neutralizing the weapons used by Congress but it has dented the Congress narrative in Karnataka. Its time Congress sets a narrative beyond personalities and their divisive statements and take Rahul Gandhi statement on the presence of RSS-BJP people in Congress seriously and gets its house in order at least in Karnataka.

Kavitha Reddy - www.kavithareddy.in

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ರಾಜಕಾರಣದಿಂದ ಕಣ್ಮರೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:56:00 +0000

ವಿಶ್ವದ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಕಾನೂನು ರೂಪಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 50% ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗೆ ಧ್ವನಿ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಯಾರು ಯೋಚಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ 11% ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಮತ್ತು 9% ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ, Post-dated ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಮಸೂದೆಯನ್ನು ಅಂಗೀಕಾರ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಆಗಿರುವ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ, ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯವು ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕರ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಕರಿಗೆ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ಗಳನ್ನು ವಿತರಿಸುವುದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೌಟುಂಬಿಕ ವ್ಯವಹಾರವಾಗಿದೆ. ಗಾಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರೆ ಎಳೆದಂತೆ ಪಿತೃಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಶೋಷಿತತ್ತಿದೆ. 12ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಲಿಂಗ ಅಸಮಾನತೆಯ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಹೋರಾಡಿದ ಬಸವಣ್ಣನ ನೆಲವೆಂದು ಗುರುತಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಂತಹ ಪ್ರಗತಿಪರ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಸಂಸತ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯವು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸರಾಸರಿಗಿಂತ ತುಂಬಾ ಕಡಿಮೆ.

ಎಲ್ಲ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲೂ, ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕತ್ವದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು ಈಗ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ರಾಜಕೀಯದಿಂದ ದೂರವಿಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಅಜ್ಞಾತವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅವಕಾಶ, ಮಾನ್ಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು access ವೃತ್ತಿ ಅಥವಾ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ, ದುರದೃಷ್ಟವಶಾತ್ ಇವು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ದೂರದ ಕನಸಾಗಿವೆ. ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯು ವಾಸ್ತವದಿಂದ ದೂರವಿರುವುದರಿಂದ, ಇಂದು ಮಹಿಳಾ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳು ಅವಕಾಶಗಳ ನ್ಯಾಯೋಚಿತ ಪಾಲನ್ನು ಬಯಸುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, ಸರ್ಕಾರವು 2000 ರೂ ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಉಚಿತ ಬಸ್ ಪ್ರಯಾಣವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಉತ್ತರಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಅಪಹಾಸ್ಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆ, ಪರಿಷತ್ತು, ಮಂಡಳಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ನಿಗಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಪಕ್ಷದ ಕಚೇರಿಗಳು, ಟಿವಿ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು, ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಬ್ಯಾನರ್ಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಆಡಳಿತ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಿಂದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಕಣ್ಮರೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಪಿತೃಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಚಾಲಿತ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸುತ್ತಾಡುವ ಪುರುಷರು ಆಡಳಿತಾತ್ಮಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಸತ್ಯ, ಆದರೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ 33 ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಮಂತ್ರಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯನ್ನು OSD ಅಥವಾ ಸಲಹೆಗಾರರು ಅಥವಾ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ನೇಮಿಸಿಲ್ಲ, ದುರದೃಷ್ಟವಶಾತ್ ಏಕೈಕ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಚಿವೆ ಸಲಹಾ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯಿಲ್ಲ, ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಪಕ್ಷ ಆಂತರಿಕ ಆಡಳಿತದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹೊರಗಿನವರಾಗಿ ಮುಂದುವರಿದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ತೀವ್ರ ಮಟ್ಟದ ವಂಶಪಾರಂಪರ್ಯದ ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಾವಂತ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಪುರುಷರು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ಸವಾಲುಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಆದರೆ ಮಾನ್ಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು access ಕೊರತೆಯು ಪ್ರತಿಭಾವಂತ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಾವಲಂಬಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಿಂದ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ದೂರವಿರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಪಕ್ಷದ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಹವಾದ ಸ್ಥಾನವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಸಹ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂಜರಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ತಮ್ಮ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡಲು ಉತ್ಸಾಹವಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ದುರದೃಷ್ಟಕರ, ಹಿರಿಯ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಸಕ್ರಿಯ ರಾಜಕೀಯವನ್ನು ತೊರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೆಲವರು ಸೋತ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋರಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಿರಿಯರು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಡೆತಡೆಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ತಮ್ಮ ಹಾದಿಯನ್ನು ಕೆತ್ತಲು ಹೆಣಗಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಒಂದು ಕಡೆ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ, ಮಾನ್ಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು access ಸವಾಲು, ಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯವಧೆ ಯನ್ನು (character assassination) ಎದುರಿಸುವುದು, ಮತ್ತೊಂದೆಡೆ ಧೈರ್ಯಶಾಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಸಹಿಷ್ಣುತೆ. ವಾಸ್ತವದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಕಿರುಕುಳಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಅವರನ್ನು ಗಂಭೀರ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿ ಎಂದು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಹಾಗೂ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗುವುದು ಅಪರೂಪ.

ಒಂದು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕಿಯನ್ನು ವಿಧಾನ ಸೌಧ ದ್ವಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ತಡೆಯುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಬಹುದು, ಆದರೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕನ ಚಮಚ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಭದ್ರತೆಯನ್ನು ದಾಟಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತರೆ, ಇದು ಮಾನ್ಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು access ಶಕ್ತಿ. ಅಧಿಕಾರದ ಕಾರಿಡಾರ್ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪುರುಷರ ಏಕಪಕ್ಷೀಯ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತಿಯು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿಲ್ಲ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

ವಿಶ್ವದ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ 50% ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು, ಕೇವಲ 15% ಭೂಮಾಲೀಕರರು, 13% ಬ್ಯೂರೋಕ್ರಸಿಯಲ್ಲಿ, 20% ವ್ಯಾಪಾರ ಮಾಲೀಕರು, 32% ಉದ್ಯೋಗದಲ್ಲಿ. ಈ ಅಸಮಾನ ಅಂಕಿ ಅಂಶವು ಬದಲಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜಕೀಯವು ಕೇವಲ ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧಿಕವಲ್ಲ, ಅಂತರ್ಗತವಾಗಿರಬೇಕು.

ಹೊಸ ಯುಗದ ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿತೃಪ್ರಭುತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸ್ಥಾನವಿರಬಾರದು, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ವನವಾಸವನ್ನು ಕೊನೆಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಪಕ್ಷಗಳು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಇಚ್ಛಾಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಅವಕಾಶಗಳು, ಮಾನ್ಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು access ಮೂಲಕ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಅಸ್ಪೃಶ್ಯರಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಅರಿತುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು!

ಕವಿತಾರೆಡ್ಡಿ

www.kavithareddy.in

Disappearing Women; Karnataka Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 03:54:00 +0000

Photo Source The Hindu

Never does it strike to our minds that 50% of the population does not find its voice in the law-making process of the largest democracy in the world. Nationally there are just 11% women in parliament and 9% in assemblies, passing the post-dated women reservation bill, local bodies women representation becoming a family affair with tickets being distributed to women relatives of the male leader who holds the power and runs the show.

It is not only adding insult to injury but constant humiliation by the patriarchy system on the women. Even in a progressive state like Karnataka that identifies itself as land of Basavanna who fought gender disparity way back in the 12^th century the women representation in parliament and assembly is far lesser than the national average.

Irrespective of political parties the unwillingness of the male leadership to share power is slowly distancing women from politics and forcing them into exile. Opportunity, exposure and access leads to growth, unfortunately these are a distant dream for most women in Karnataka politics. With women reservation being far from reality, today when women politicians demand for a fair share of opportunities, they are mocked with a reply that government is giving Rs 2000 and free bus travel for women. Not just in Karnataka assembly, council, boards and corporations, the women are disappearing from the party offices, tv debates, political banners and administrative structure.

In the patriarchy driven system, its desired for men to hang around with the leaders and get access to administrative set up. Out of the 33 ministers in Karnataka not even a single minister has appointed a party woman as OSD or advisor or media in-charge, unfortunately the lone woman minister has no woman as part of the core administrative team and women continue to be outsiders even in administration.

In the rampant dynasty politics in Karnataka the talented and independent men and women both are losing out but the lack of exposure and access is driving away the talented and self-respecting women further away from the system. The hesitancy to even claim a deserving seating at a party meeting and unwillingness to fight for their rights is sending back women to homes, when most senior women have given up, few others continue to fight a losing battle and the younger ones are struggling to carve their paths against all odds.

The challenge of lack of opportunities, exposure and access on one side, facing brutal character assassination, intolerance towards bolder and intelligent women on the other. Women are looked down upon, judged and are not considered as serious politician, rarely one can see political conversations and decisions where women are involved.

One can witness a woman leader of a political party being stopped at Vidhana Soudha where as chamcha & followers of a male leader walk past the security without scrutiny, such is the power of exposure and access. The lopsided presence of only men in the power corridors have never been welcoming of women.

50% of the population in the world largest democracy has just 15% landholders, 13% in bureaucracy, 20% business owners, 32% in workforce, if this statistics has to change the politics has to become inclusive and not just representative.

Patriarchy should not have a place in new age politics, it’s important to end the political exile of the women. Parties have to demonstrate political will and empower women politically; through opportunities, exposure and access and realize that women are no political pariahs!

Kavitha Reddy www.kavithareddy.in

Congress: Grand Old Party, Brand New Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:42:00 +0000

Margaret Drabble’s quote “Nothing succeeds, they say, like success. And certainly nothing fails like failure” is the story of BJP and Congress in the country today. Winning election after election the BJP has captured the imagination of the nation over the last 10-12 year, almost dismantling the power and organizational strength that the congress held for a long-time post-independence.

The challenges for the congress seems one to many, even as Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi consistently raising very serious issues that concerns every citizen of this nation, on jobs, economy, MSMEs, business inequality, healthcare, education, foreign policy lack of transparency, lack of opportunities to OBCs, dalits, tribals and women, capturing of institutions to benefit the ruling party, raise in hate politics and more, the inability of most congress leaders to take the message of Rahul Gandhi strongly to the masses is more than evident.

Blaming Rahul Gandhi for every failure or decision is never out of fashion, BJP-RSS never loses an opportunity to attack the LoP and the congress leaders who have enjoyed power for long are reluctant to defend their own leader. The most articulate and detailed response of LoP in the Parliament on the Budget was not even made a point of debate across all the states by the congress leaders, least could have been having a press conference and reiterating the breakdown of the economy which Rahul Gandhi elaborated.

Elections and the entire process is key to a strong democracy, any lapses would only means cheating 1.45 billion people’s democratic rights. Irregularities in election process, concerns on the EVMs, BJP using its power to overpower the election commission and other institutions is the greatest danger to the democracy and a direct assault on the soul of constitution of India.

Rahul Gandhi held a press conference along with Sanjay Raut of Shiva Sena and Supriya Sule of NCP and shared the data on how large number of voters have been added in Maharashtra’s electoral roll just before the Assembly elections, and the voting population is almost close to the actual population of Maharashtra, similar view was presented on Delhi too. BJP-RSS using its reach to manipulate the electoral roll is one aspect but the need to examine why the opposition parties have failed at the grassroot level to stop the manipulation in the electoral roll is most important.

As part of the voter addition and deletion process the election commission periodically shares drafts over 5 years, it’s a block level responsibility of every party to ensure the additions and deletions are verified through the booth level agents and objections are raised on every draft. So, the question is, has the draft sharing process been suppressed by the election commission or is this an organizational failure of the opposition parties where their grassroot level workers network is eroded. Opposition parties in India need to ask themselves where and how their organizational structure has failed, and if the democracy has to thrive in our nation the responsibility is on the opposition parties to stay alert at all times.

Inability of most state congress leaders to stay out of power, lack of ability to strengthen the party at the ideological and grassroot level, choosing money over method, appeasement over ideology has weakened the congress party. Leaders’ unwillingness to speak against Modi and RSS is either out of fear or that they themselves are peddling the soft-hindutva line. What was once a mass-based party where elections were won on policies and programs has turned into complete leaders-based party where the leaders control the party through the power of money, followers and resources.

What is hurting the congress party further is not just the election defeats but the crumbling organization structure at the ground level, the leaders who have got the opportunity to head the party at the state level are not looking beyond their personal growth and the entire organization is made subservient dismantling the inner party democracy. Recently a senior congress leader joked that today in congress its ‘jiski lathi uski bhains’. Most leaders have enjoyed power for a longer time than they deserve and have vast experience than Rahul Gandhi, but for everything that goes wrong the permanent fall guy seems to be Rahul Gandhi and leaders are not held accountable and they seldom own up their failures.

The three important action points for the congress today is to ensure sanitization of electoral rolls by making Aadhaar linking mandatory, demand for election reforms, and building a strong ideologically committed party workers base at all levels.

Congress has a moral and social responsibility towards the nation, it’s just not another political party, keeping the democracy and constitution thriving is its eternal duty. Today’s India is seeking quicker and decisive decisions from the grand old party.

Kavitha Reddy, Member, KBOCWWB, www.kavithareddy.in

Mighty Muddled Middle Class

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 02:15:00 +0000

New York Times article in 1983 described the Indian middle-class as an emerging social class which is aspirational, influential and who embraced consumerism with pride. Post Independence three events that led to the poor escaping their fate to recreate their own destiny were the PSU Jobs, Land Reforms and Liberalization. The power of these events was such that the parents wanting better opportunities & lives for their children became the norm as the poor raised to middle-class.

Today, middle-class comprises of over 41% (McKinsey Report) of the population, segregated as middle-class and upper middle-class who are not only aspirational but cynical at the same time. Initially the majority of the middle-class were from upper caste and OBC, and the narrative of reservation for dalits taking away all the opportunities distanced them from the oppressed classes, they silently mocked dalits as “Reservation Class” and unfairly linked reservation to lack of quality. Eventually as dalits became more assertive and entered the middle-class using the opportunities given to them, targeting them was socially and also politically untenable.

In the late 90’s the political narrative of hindutva politics led to demonizing muslims for taking away wealth and jobs due to increase in the muslim population. The narrative of anti-reservation and anti-muslim constantly propagated by the affluent and political class made the middle-class venerable and even anti-poor. Branding social welfare schemes for the poor that once helped the middle-class escape from poverty as freebies became a common phenomenon.

As rich are getting richer and have more access to opportunities, the cynicism and anger of the middle-class is even today mostly against the poor for getting benefits & welfare schemes, though it’s an unfair argument. The mighty middle-class has slowly emerged as a formidable force to reckon with, the political parties seized the opportunity to mobilize people for agitations to further their political agenda and directing middle-class towards the hindutva politics terming it as hindu unifying factor.

The middle-class stood largely divided on the mandal commission report and as the agitations broke the new era of OBC upraise began, but eventually it died with the mandir narrative taking the centerstage, which was an attempt to leverage on hindu sentiments for pure political gains.

The secular parties are struggling to align the middle-class with narrative of progress, policies, and schemes, over the last decade the poison of hate politics has engulfed the lives of the middle-class.

The aspirational middle-class that benefitted from the PSUs, IIMs, IITs, Bank Nationalization and many welfare policies from 1947-1992, who were once the conscience keeper of the nation holding up the values of freedom struggle and the constitution, from where the strongest political leadership grew is today entangled in the hate politics.

The middle-class that has the voice and numbers should have been demanding better infrastructure, opportunity, quality education & healthcare, more financial inclusion, better administration instead has fallen into the narrative that is driving the nation towards the dark ages of hate, unrest and fascism.

Kavitha Reddy, Member KBOCWWB, www.kavithareddy.in

My body is not mine anymore!

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 05:43:00 +0000

Being Indian, Contradiction

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 04:06:00 +0000

Dynasty Politics; No more Legacy, it is Power

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:46:00 +0000

At 52 years of age, Priyanka Gandhi is not an MP candidate, works for the party as General Secretary. Rahul Gandhi is a 5-time MP, yet was not even a Minister during the 10 years of the UPA Government, he was General Secretary in charge of the Youth Congress, NSUI, later AICC President and worked for the party relentlessly.

Yet Rahul Gandhi is blamed for being the torch bearer of dynasty politics, history says that children entered electoral politics post-death of their parent, the same is true for the Nehru-Gandhi family, and many others including Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Sindia, Naveen Patnaik, Jagan Reddy too.

Every resistance to the blatant dynasty politics within the congress party was projected as a voice against Gandhi's and silenced to the convenience of the senior leaders who then carefully plotted the easy entry of their relatives into electoral politics.

The dynast politics, which was to keep the family legacy alive is now turned into family politics, to keep all the power within the families and end the rise of any alternate leadership in the districts or in communities.

Recent Lok Shaba elections in Karnataka exposed the dangerous trends of family politics, it shocked many but exposed how powerful people systematically destroyed the rise of any other leadership within the districts. When questions were asked about family members getting Lok Sabha tickets, the only reply was that there were no better alternates on winnability criteria, but no one asked why the alternate leadership was not allowed to grow all these years.

Now in most districts the political families even for the next generation can dictate and manipulate who gets the tickets for local bodies and assembly elections based on their political convenience or the loyalty shown by the ticket aspirants.

This year as India celebrated the 80^th birth anniversary of one of the brilliant minds, visionary, father of digital India and ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the congress men and women must ask themselves if they have done justice to his legacy and vision.

Rajiv Gandhi identified talented young men and women from all walks of life and within the party and gave them opportunities, he had a vision to make congress party more grassroot and more inclusive. He spoke for the women who are 50% of the population and wanted them to be the voice from panchayat to parliament.

The men who have been the direct beneficiaries of Rajiv Gandhi’s visionary politics are not only doing injustice to his legacy but are dismantling his inclusive vision of making political system accessible to ordinary people and are replacing it with rampant family politics. Also, the laziness of the power hungry to work in the grassroot has given rise to dabangs and money bags thereby creating chota short-cut to power without hard work, ideology, or merit.

History has always proven that natural justice will prevail, powerful will be challenged and eventually the system will go on a reset mode. Since politics is the engine of change, India always expects better from the oldest party that was built and is represented by masses.

Kavitha Reddy

www.kavithareddy.in

See Sandur in September - Bapu

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:11:00 +0000

2024 marks one of the greatest moments in the Independence struggle, it marks the 100 years of the 39^th Belgaum (now Belagavi) session of Indian National Congress under the Presidentship of Mahatma Gandhi, it was the only term Bapu was the President of All India Congress Committee (AICC).

The Belgaum session held on 26^th & 27^th December 1924 was significant for many reasons, it was the first time Indian National Congress session was held in a village, it importantly united all factions of the Indian National Congress. Bapu declared spinning the yarn as an activity of the independence movement and non-violence & non-co-operation as the only means to achieve political freedom.

The 1924 session venue was named as Vijayanagar, which today is Veerasoudha Udyana that has preserved several memories, photos, and statue of Mahatma Gandhi. A huge well was dug which was named Pampa Sarovar and was inaugurated by Bapu and other delegates making water available in excess to the village.

The stalwarts like Motilal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Rajagopalachari, Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Chittaranjan Das, Madan Mohan Malalviya, Saifuddin Kichalu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Rajendra Prasad, and so many others were part of the 1924 AICC session.

Over 17000 delegates across the country and abroad attended the session, they paid Rs 1 as delegate fee, important to point out that Bapu had requested the in-charge secretary to reduce the delegate fee for Rs 10 to Rs 1.

Mahatma Gandhi has visited Karnataka (present) for over 18 times between 1915-1940, and visited Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mysore, Hassan, Hubballi, Dharwad, Chitradurga, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya, Belgaum, Kolar, Nandi Hills, Kengeri, Shivamogga, Sandur and few other places.

From public meeting to promoting Kadhi, conferences on ending untouchability, Mahatma Gandhi’s foot steps can be traced across Karnataka. In his rural upliftment programs, he often spoke about Swadeshi, Sarvodaya and Aparigraha which become the core principles of self-less services in the many princely states.

Bellari District has a special place in Bapu’s life story, in 1934 Bapu visited Sandur on invitation from the royal family, mesmerized by the post monsoon greenery, rocky hills and scenic beauty, he called to ‘See Sandur in September’. The tiny town in Kudligi houses the memorial holding the ashes of Bapu, and still remind people about the Gandhian way of life.

In the celebration of 100 year of the AICC session in Belgaum and celebrating Mahatma Gandhi as its President will be incomplete if the foot prints of Bapu are not traced in every part of Karnataka and recorded for the future generations.

Kavitha Reddy

www.kavithareddy.in

Social Access to Employment

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 04:29:00 +0000

Affirmative action, Employment Equity, Reservation, different terms do not change the intent and spirit of the policy. Globally governments have always pushed the private sector to ensure workforce diversity in terms of ethnicity, local population, differently challenged, minorities and gender in their workforce. In few countries its mandated, and in most other countries it linked to tax benefits or incentives for the companies maintaining the diversity in its workforce.

Even as quota for locals and reservations for the marginalized and oppressed castes in private sector in India has been an uncomfortable debate for corporate India, the finding of first ever caste census in corporate India in 2011 over a decade ago can still put us to shame. It revealed that Schedule Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) community employee strength in corporate India did not even closely reflect the actual population, and since then no concrete long-term measure have been to taken to rectify or even address the disparity.

The shrinking public sector and government jobs, and lack of interest among corporate India to implement the “CII’s Affirmative Action Plan” on a consistent basis has increased the gap of population to employed among the SC & ST) communities. Even in highly industrial states the gap is only increasing, there seems to be a thin hope in the services sector yet the jobs for youth from SC & ST community is far from satisfactory.

The SC & ST communities hold lowest of the nation’s wealth which is appx Rs 6.13 lac per household, leased land, low education rate, minimum access to loans and capital, hence the dependency on government schemes have been the best option.

International Labour Organization (ILO) - Institute for Human Development (IHD) India Employment Report 2024 shows that the SC & ST working ration to their population is higher but are restricted to unorganized sector, low education and no-skill jobs followed by the Other Backward Classes (OBC), whereas the General Category (GC) occupy the high-end jobs.

Hence, affirmative action and targeted policies for SC & ST has not really ensured better jobs or decent employment opportunities in the vast labour markets of India, discrimination and lack of access to education is clearly a major cause for lack of inclusiveness in a diverse caste ridden society.

Karnataka has a SC & ST population to employment gap in the private sector to an extent of 14%, behind Tamil Nadu and Kerala, so a lot more needs to be done proactively to reduce the gap. Few months ago Karnataka government in its wisdom announced reservation in all contract jobs across all government departments. Over 75000 people in Group C & D are hired under contract basis in various government departments, and reservation as per norms for SC & ST community and 33% for women is a welcome step. Over 2.5 lac posts that are vacant currently can help youths from SC & ST community and women to get employment directly with the government.

The ambitious “Ashadeepa Scheme’’ by Karnataka Labour Department that aims to encourage corporate India to hire more youth from SC & ST community through incentive program which should be taken advantage of and enable youth from SC & ST community to be job ready.

There are few states across the country who are promoting several other schemes to encourage corporate India to add more youth from SC & ST community to their workforce, and ensure access to training and employment. Given the strong measures taken by various governments corporate India has a responsibility to respond positively towards an inclusive society, and to reduce possible social unrest.

Society driven social construct deciding the destiny of one of the largest communities in India must end. If just 4-5% of corporate India CEOs are from SC & ST communities even as we complete 75 years of Independence from British slavery, then the question of when and how to end social slavery becomes pertinent. If Affirmative action and incentivization is the only way to make corporate India inclusive for every community then why evade the inevitable.

Kavitha Reddy

Member, Karnataka Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board

Minority Report; Young and Resilient

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 08:50:00 +0000

Sachar Committee report 2006 revealed various disparities and challenges faced by Indian muslims. These included lower levels of educational attainment, higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and inadequate representation in government jobs, limited political representation, discrimination in housing, less access to loans and other economic opportunities.

The 403 pages report “Social Economic and Educational Status of Muslim Community in India – A Report’’ was presented in the Lok Shaba in November 2006, and subsequently several recommendations were considered over years, but all the government indicators still show no significant change in the condition of muslim community in India.

The statistics show that Indian muslims employment is less than 5% in government jobs, 3.2% in security forces, about 3% in corporate India. Muslims own appx 8% of India’s wealth, avg wealth of a muslim household is Rs 9.95 lac as against the Hindu upper caste household wealth of Rs 27.73 lac, OBC household wealth of Rs 12.96 lac, SC & ST household wealth of Rs 6.13 lac. Muslim higher education is 17%, as against national average at 26%. Only 50% of the muslim children complete middle school as against the national average of 62%, over 46% of muslims are self-employed in urban India, which is highest compared to other communities. (data from Rajya Sabha discussion 2023)

Indian muslims have been vilified by the political entity in power that is propagating hardline hindutva ideology over the last 10-15 years and damaging the inclusive nature of Indian society. Despite all the socio-economic-political challenges something is changing for good, the Indian muslims are marching ahead creating their own success stories and building lives.

In a recent interaction with youths from different communities, Santosh Lad Labour Minister GoK shared a very thought-provoking argument on Skill Development. He spoke eloquently about how the Indian muslims despite the challenges are constantly acquiring skills in every industry, sector, and trade that we know of today. He further pointed out that from puncture shops to IT companies, fixing tiles to mobile phones, plumbing to real estate, tea shops to teaching, butcher shops to malls, electric shop to new age entrepreneurs, hotels to hospitals, drivers to deans, cleaners to doctors the Indian Muslims are working in every space, challenging status-quo, and silently but strongly contributing to the growth of the nation. He also shared the view that unless young people across all religion, regions, and castes are not prepared to explore opportunities, challenge norms, and grow economically the social disparities will continue to weigh on them forever.

The sustained unspoken discrimination in the private sector post 9/11 and lack of adequate representation in government jobs have forced young Indian muslims to relentlessly hone skills that can get them jobs, start business, and create wealth. India in 2023 received over $ 125 billion remittances from across the globe, a major part of these remittances comes from Indian muslims working overseas mostly middle-east Asia, who are consistently sending wealth back home.

In the last three decades education has become a powerful tool for young muslim women to be more progressive, vocal, and are consciously charting their way into the workforce. Education is also promoting many social changes and improved lifestyle and bettered the living conditions. The rise of the middle class in the Indian muslim community is encouraging, they are aspirational, educated, progressive is constantly breaking free from the shackles of socio-economic clutches just like the middle class in Indian hindus community.

Speaking proudly of the success story of Mustafa the CEO of ‘iD Fresh Food’ a young muslim girl student corrected me and said “Akka (elder sister) we not only cook the best biriyani; we make the ready batter for the best idly and dose too.”

Indian muslims for long have carried the burden of partition, riots, haunted by the ghosts of babri masjid demolition and scared by Gujarat mass murders, many have let gone the past for a better future. The current generation of young Indian muslims do not relate to history gone by, and do not seem to be too keen to visit the past. During the anti-CAA protests the emergence of assertive Indian muslims holding the constitution book and fighting for their rights gave a new direction and purpose, and the purpose became stronger and important for the future.

Even as we continue to debate on the finding of Sachar Committee, and the important need to do lot more to uplift the Indian muslim community, the young Indian muslims are striding ahead not waiting for policies to change their destiny. Representation in the government, administration is a necessity to create a level playing field, and to eventually end misplaced islamophobia and ghettoization in the nation that is home to the world’s third largest muslim population.

In caste ridden Indian hindu society where the oppressed castes are still struggling with socio-economic inequality, women are also fighting social obstacles and lack of proportionate opportunities in every sector, and the story of resilient Indian muslims holding ground despite social hurdles and hostile political environment is indeed a powerful message.

Progress of every society depends on how the young people reskill, rethink, and renegotiate their paths, and how they re-write their success stories, at the age of 18 if one can vote out a government, they sure are capable of changing destiny of the nation too.

Kavitha Reddy

KPCC General Secretary (views are personal) www.KavithaReddy.in

The Caregivers; Homecare in India

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:36:00 +0000

Nurses from India for several decades have been the caregivers for the world, service-oriented men & women initially from Kerala and later from rest of India continue to care for the patients and elderly globally. Back in India healthcare for 1.45 billion population is a herculean task, even as large part of the population is dependent on government healthcare system the private healthcare market is growing exponentially, and so is the important homecare sector.

Lifestyle diseases, aging population, increase in chronic diseases, shortage of hospital beds, nuclear families, higher disposable income, access to alternate services, affordability, insurance cover, technology has been instrumental for a massive boom in the homecare sector.

India's population is aging rapidly, with the number of people above 60 expected to reach 170 million by 2025. The demographic shift has led to an increase in age-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, stroke, dementia, and alzheimers which require ongoing care and management. Indian healthcare system is also facing a significant shortage of hospital beds, with only 1.3 beds per 1000 people, compared to the global average of 3.5 beds per 1000 people. This shortage has led to a substantial increase in demand for homecare services as well, as patients prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own homes if there is a viable option.

Homecare market in India is estimated to be worth $5.5 billion, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% over the next five years. This growth is driven by increasing demand for homecare services, industry initiatives to promote homecare, and the entry of new players into the market. Homecare provides a convenient and cost-effective solution, also, since homecare services are both medical and non-medical assistance to patients in the comfort of their own homes, it reduces the need for hospitalization and improves health outcomes.

The Indian government has recognized the potential of homecare services and has introduced initiatives to promote and regulate the sector. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has established guidelines for homecare services, including standards for quality, safety, and patient care.

But homecare sector is facing significant challenges:

There is a lack of financial incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits to encourage investment in homecare. Even though homecare is growing and is creating medical and non-medical jobs rapidly government is yet to recognize it as a separate sector and extend benefits.

Insufficient or no access to training for non-medical resources, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to enhance their skills is leading to a severe shortage of trained resources.

Inadequate medical insurance cover for patients, lack of additional statutory policy framework in the insurance cover is making homecare less accessible and less attractive to patients.

Public awareness campaigns from the government to educate people about the benefits and importance of homecare is almost non-existent.

Implementing the policy changes in line with the governments globally to suite to the changing dynamics of homecare sector that can improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of homecare services, ultimately benefiting all the stakeholders is much needed.

Healthcare services received at home from qualified nurses and other technically qualified persons are exempt from GST, but by not extending it to non-medical persons who provide important basic care is a deterrent to cost sensitive Indian market.

Social security programs like the one implemented for gig workers and news paper deliver people by Karnataka government is also a requirement for caregivers, as they may not get employment opportunity after the age of 45-47 yrs.

Homecare sector already have major private hospitals and some key player like Health Vista, HCAH, Skawin, Care24, Athulya and more. They are providing both short-term and long-term jobs for qualified nurses and for people who are service orientation but have only basic educational qualification. Women from small town who come from difficult background are happy to do baby care or patient care and earn Rs15000 – Rs18000 a month than struggle doing odd jobs. Karnataka Government has an opportunity to provide General Duty Assistant (GDA) training for men and women who just have basic educational qualification, and enhance their opportunity to get jobs in the homecare sector.

The population of India is both its biggest strength and weakness, Indians are becoming a global workforce working to make world a better place, but our states and union government policies and strategic interventions lack the efficacy, accountability, and speed to create gold standard organizations in every sector and are inadvertently making job creation a burden for entrepreneurs.

India needs to focus a lot more and healthcare industry, robust infrastructure and access to quality services is now a basic ask. Hence the governments have the obligation to scrub-up and provide patient and caregiver friendly framework for the homecare sector and not put a breathing sector on ventilator.

Kavitha Reddy

Mentor, Skawin Medical & Healthcare www.skawin.in

ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು; ಒಂದು ಭ್ರಮೆ!

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:14:00 +0000

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವು ಬಸವಣ್ಣ, ಕುವೆಂಪುರ ನಾಡು, ಪ್ರಗತಿಪರ ಬೀಡು, ಐಟಿ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಎಂದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ಗುರುತಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆ, ಹಲವು ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಗ್ರಸ್ಥಾನದಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಇಂತ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಅತ್ಯಲ್ಪ ಮತ್ತು ಕ್ಷೀಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ, ಹೊರ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಮಹಿಳಾ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಚುನಾಯಿತ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಇರಬೇಕಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಆದರೆ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯವು ಕೇವಲ ಸಂಕೇತವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಹಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯವನ್ನು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ನಟಿಯರಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕರ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಸೀಮಿತಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ, ದುರದೃಷ್ಟವಶಾತ್ ಈ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಇತರ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಅಥವಾ ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಇವರು ಸಹ ಅದೇ ಪಿತೃಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕತ್ವವನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಅನೇಕ ಅಡೆತಡೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಚುನಾವಣೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಹಸನವಾಗಿದೆ, ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕರ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಗಳು ಪುರುಷ ನಾಯಕರ ಪ್ರಾಕ್ಸಿಯಾಗಿ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಬದಲಾಗುವವರೆಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅವರು ಚುನಾಯಿತ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳು, ನಂತರ ಅವರು ರಾಜಕೀಯವನ್ನು ಮರೆತು ಮನೆಗೆ ಸೀಮಿತರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಯಾವುದೇ ಇತರ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸಲು ಪಕ್ಷಗಳು ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಕೊಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾನೂನು ರಚನೆ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 50% ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ, ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾನೂನು ರಚನೆ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯು ಎಷ್ಟು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲವು ದಶಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಣ ಮತ್ತು ಬಾಹು ಬಲದ ರಾಜಕೀಯದ ಹೆಚ್ಚಳವು ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕತ್ವವನ್ನು ಬದಿಗಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ, ಯಾವುದೇ ಹೊಸ ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕತ್ವದ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮುವಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ಕೇವಲ ಮತದಾರರು, ಇಂದಿನ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ನಾಯಕತ್ವವನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವ ಅಗತ್ಯತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳು ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.

ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಯೋಜನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವುದು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವಂತೆಯೇ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಖಾತರಿ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳು ಯಾವುದೇ ಇತರ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಜನರಿಗೆ ನೀಡಲಾದ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳಂತೆ, ಸಮಾನ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಶಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಇದು ಪರ್ಯಾಯವಲ್ಲ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸತ್ತು ಬಹುಕಾಲದಿಂದ ವಿಳಂಬವಾದ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಮಸೂದೆಯನ್ನು ಅಂಗೀಕರಿಸಿದೆ, ಆದರೆ ಅದು 10 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಬರಲಿದೆ, ಇದು ದೇಶದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅವಮಾನ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಇದು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮುಜುಗರವೂ ಆಗಿದೆ.

ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಹಿಳಾ ದಿನದಂದು ಕಳೆದ 10 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಮೇಲಿನ ಅಪರಾಧದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡದ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ, ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಡೇಟೆಡ್ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಮಸೂದೆಯ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ದಿನದ ಉಡುಗೊರೆಯಾಗಿ ಅಡುಗೆ ಅನಿಲದ ಮೇಲೆ 100 ರೂ ಕಡಿತಗೊಳಿಸುವುದಾಗಿ ಘೋಷಿಸಿದರು, ಭಾರತದ ಅತ್ಯುನ್ನತ ಹುದ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಕೂಡ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ಕೇವಲ ಅಡುಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಡುಗೆಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಗುರುತಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಇದು ಸಾಬೀತುಪಡಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ರಾಜಕೀಯ ನಿಜವಾದ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯ ಯ೦ತ್ರ, ಪಿತೃಪ್ರಧಾನ ಸಮಾಜವನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ನೀಡಬೇಕು, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ಸಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸುವುದು ಇಂದಿಗೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯೀಕರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ರೂಢಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯಾಗಬೇಕು, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾನೂನು ರಚನೆ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾನ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ ಸಾಧ್ಯ.

ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ 75 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರವೂ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಟಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕೋಟಾವನ್ನು ಹಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಾತಿನಿಧ್ಯವನ್ನು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವಿಕೆಗೆ ಪರಿವರ್ತಿಸಬೇಕು. ಆಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ನಾವು ಲಿಂಗ ಭೇದವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಮಾನತೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸುವ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರವಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ.

ಶ್ರೀ ಬಸವಣ್ಣನವರನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ನಾಯಕ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಿದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ನಿಜವಾದ ಪ್ರಗತಿಯು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಸಮಾನತೆಯನ್ನು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಇದೆ, ಹಾಗೂ ಇದು ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ಸಮಾನತೆಗಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡಿದ ಬಸವಣ್ಣನವರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವ ನಿಜವಾದ ಗೌರವ.

ಕವಿತಾ ರೆಡ್ಡಿ, ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿಗಳು, www.KavithaReddy.in

Trapped in Loveless Marriage!

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:16:00 +0000

‘’Marriages are made in Heaven, suffered on Earth’’ was a sharp reaction from an affluent woman who is unable to seek divorce from her husband, and has been stuck in a loveless marriage to manage the family image in the society.

The most common and unfair situation the women in India face irrespective of religion, caste, region, class is the dilemma of separation and divorce, while India tops the world with the lowest divorce rate of 1%, it is no measure of happy relationship, reality is that over 2.3 million women are separated or abandoned by their spouses.

Divorced women are 5.6 out of 1000 among Muslims, 2.6 out of 1000 among Hindu women, and separated or abandoned are 6.7 out of 1000 among Muslims, and 7 out of 1000 among Hindus. Among other minorities like Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikh situation of women seeking divorce is slightly better but not to cheer either. Hence beyond doubt religion is no barrier when it comes to marital challenges for women.

Separated or abandoned is logically the same uncertainty for women, but in there could be a financial arrangement in case of separation, to play to the galleries of the society or for the sake of the children. Stigma, financial dependency, responsibility of children, prolonged legal process continues to be reasons most women stay separated than opting for divorce.

The patriarchal society fails to acknowledge that the emotional & physical needs of men and women are the same, even as adultery and extra marital affair of the husband is the most common reason for separation or being abandoned, it is the women who bear the brunt of a failed marriage and suffer emotional breakdowns, and they seldom seek any physical intimacy even outside of a failed marriage due to societal fear.

‘’Divorce has a reason, it is a decision to move on, but separation is a state of uncertainty where the woman suffers emotionally, and the man is happily living with other woman, or is free to have a physical relationship with another woman, how fair life is for a woman in male dominated society, who is forced to give up her natural needs because of spouse’s infidelity?’’ asks a young mother in her late 20’s.

The struggles of separated or abandoned women is not only emotional, financial, and social, the challenges of getting government IDs, passport, children school admission, bank loans, property disposal, access to government benefits as the legal framework does not identify separated or abandoned as specific marital status. It is indeed a trauma when women are unwilling made to negotiate the legal framework in a society that blames the woman for being separated or abandoned by the husband.

Whether woman walks out of a marriage or the man, the terms of negotiation predominantly is tilted towards the man unless it is a legal separation in some cases. And lack of legal information, less or no access to legal aid, prolonged legal process, financial sustainability of legal process takes a toll on the women who try to seek closure of a failed relationship.

Even as government has made some provision to seek legal aid in case of a man leaving the country abandoning the woman he was married to in India, the effort is negligible, and it does not address the condition of millions of women whose are living a life of uncertainties and social discrimination.

In October 2023, in the case of an 89-year-old man seeking divorce from his 82-year-old wife refusing to use Article 142 to grant divorce the Supreme Court has said - "irretrievable break down of marriage” cannot be used as a straight-jacket formula to dissolve a marriage as despite increasing trend of filing divorce cases, marriage is still considered to be a pious, spiritual, and invaluable emotional life-net between the husband and the wife in the Indian society.

Supreme Court observation in case of an older couple is not necessarily an ideal situation for younger couples who have a life ahead and are unable to make their marriage work, it is indeed denial of constitutional guarantee to continue in a broken and unhappy relationship even if marriages are considered pious.

In the name of societal view of a marriage millions of women irrespective of religion, caste, class, and region are trapped in loveless marriage suffering emotional trauma, discrimination, social stigma, financial burden. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, known as Triple Talaq Bill, nor the Uniform Civil Code that is much in debate will change the fate of women in this country, unless the societal norms are shaken and “Separated or Abandoned’’ becomes a “Marital Status’’ for women who are unable to seek divorce for various reasons that is not in their control, but want to live a life of dignity without being trapped and suffocated in a loveless marriage for life.

Time immortal the burden of relationship, family prestige, social compulsions has always been forced on the shoulders of a woman, a progressive nation has the moral obligation to ease that burden by bringing in more realistic laws that address the needs of the changing times.

Kavitha Reddy, Activist & KPCC General Secretary, www.KavithaReddy.in/media/

People to Jobs vs Jobs to People

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:25:00 +0000

2024; Programs, Policies or Propaganda?

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:17:00 +0000

Tryst With Destiny speech of Pt Nehru inspired generations of Indians to strive for the best, his words “That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we may fulfil the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as-long-as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.’’ was not only pragmatic it reflects a true visionary and nationalist in him.

No many in the current generation or even in politics can relate to the difficult times India got her independence, and what it took to reach $ 3.75 trillion GDP (7.75% of global GDP) from Rs 2.7 lac crs GDP (3% of global GDP) in 1947, and from Rs 265 per capita in 1947 to Rs 172000 per capita in 2024. From Pt Nehru to Dr Manmohan Singh, each of our Prime Ministers and their Governments had put people of the Nation ahead of their own personal glories.

The 1^st Prime Minister of Independent India Pt Nehru set the road map of Modern India with implementation of the Constitution written by Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar and bringing in the Hindu Code Bill that liberated millions of women making them equal partners in the journey of the Nation. Building world class institutions & infrastructure including ISRO, PSUs, IITs, AIIMS, Dams that laid the foundation of a sovereign India. He not only shaped India’s foreign policy but was instrumental in creating alternate power equation through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Pt Nehru’s Five-Year Plan put development of primary sector in the spotlight and India recorded a 3.6% GDP growth, the economic policies with a socialist approach gave economic security for the people. The Indo-China war did dent Nehru’s image and he took the blame of not being able to see the China aggression even as he signed peace treaties.

Carrying forward the strong legacy of Pt Nehru in his short tenure Lal Bahadur Shastri left large footprint by making India food sufficient via Green Revolution, White Revolution and setting up the Food Corporation of India. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan became a national slogan that immortalized Lal Bahadur Shastri policy of Food and National Security.

India’s 1^st woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi furthered the agenda of making wealth of the nation accessible to all, path breaking Land Reforms, Nationalization of Banks, making India a Nuclear Power and ensured liberation of Bangladesh by winning war against Pakistan. 20 Points Program were the flagship programs that addressed socio economic aspects and overall wellbeing of people. Even as emergency was a blot on the Democracy, Indira Gandhi’s comeback was more popular than ever, she strengthened the Foreign Policy, Food Security and displayed an Iron hand against terrorism and insurgency.

Assassination of Indira Gandhi ushered in the trained Pilot and Technocrat Rajiv Gandhi abruptly to fill the emotional space left by her, he was tireless and full of ideas, he laid the foundation of Technology enabled India, the charismatic Rajiv Gandhi conquered the attention of the world with his unapologetic dream to take India to greater heights. Empowered the youth to choose their government by reducing age of voting to 18 yrs, Computerization, National Education Policy, Telecom Revolution, Panchyat Raj System where the programs that put India on an aggressive growth path, but many do not remember that his policies enabled India to become a global leader in vaccination production.

Prime Minister PV Narashima Rao is the father of Economic Reforms, his policies opened India to the world, ending license raj and creating jobs, he facilitated the nuclear program that led to the 2^nd nuclear test during Prime Minister Vajpayee’s government. His foreign policy focused on economic participation, he believed in creation of opportunity and wealth for every Indian.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the 1^st non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term, his non vindictive politics and respect for the achievements India during the tenure of all other Prime Ministers before him defined his sensitive and statesman like demeanor, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan bring back much needed attention on Education, he believed that access to roads and mobility is the path to development, Golden Quadrilateral, Highways, Village roads saw a giant transformation in road infrastructure. IT & Telecom emerged and the face of India during his tenure.

Dr Manmohan Singh probably the most unexpected of the Prime Ministers, as an Economist he strengthened economy, put Indian economy on a fast track, he insulated Indian economy from the global recession. The right based flagship programs that include RTE, RTI, Food Security Bill, MGNREGA, Aadhaar, DBT and Civil Nuclear Agreement remain the most successful programs.

Even though under the Leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there has not been a major flagship program, he has criticized 65 years of achievements of the Nation during previous governments on every possible occasion, most programs got renamed to claim ownership. But he himself did not show accountability of de-monetization decision, COVID deaths, Rafael scam, Manipur unrest, Pulwama terror attack, his friendship with Adani and Ambani, destabilizing elected governments in states and many more.

When Narendra Modi took oath he spoke about minimum government maximum governance, but the greatest opportunity to steer the Nation on a progressive path was lost in the slogans; Acche Din, Saab Ka Saat Saab Ka Vikas, Shresta Bharat, Swacch Bharat, Viksit Bharat.

Abrogation of Article 370, Citizenship Bill (CAA), Tripal Talaq Bill continue to be showcased as achievements without explaining whom it really benefitted and how did it help the larger population.

Lack of transparency in governance, authoritarianism, weakening the federal structure, headline management, deep divide of South and North on power devolution, funds, language, drastic increase in unemployment and poverty, raising crime against women, dalits and minorities like never before, misuse of law enforcement agencies, muting the media, increase in the gap between rich and poor, vendetta politics, blurring of the lines between politics and religion are threating the Constitution like never before.

India’s cultural nationalism is being rapidly engulfed by BJP religious nationalism, and the fear of majoritarian politics is creating unrest in the minds of people who truly believe in Idea of India that the founding Leaders had established. Are we moving far away from the essence of the Tryst with Destiny speech? is embracing fanaticism where Policies and Programs are being replaced by Propaganda? remains to be answered in 2024 general elections.

Kavitha Reddy
KPCC General Secretary, www.KavithaReddy.in/media

Domestic Violence; An Untamed Evil

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 04:53:00 +0000

Legal equality without shaking the social hierarchy and the laws without gender sensitization of law enforcers cannot end violence and crime on women. According to OECD SIGI Report 2023 one in every three women are the victims of Domestic Violence globally, and a large percentage of these women are under 30 years. India’s statistics are slightly higher than the global numbers, given our population and to put it in perspective the number of women who face Domestic Violence in India is about 220 million, which is equivalent to the total population of Brazil.

In 2021 National Crime Records Bureau reported 428,000+ cases of spousal violence (sexual abuse, mental harassment, and physical abuse) across India, a number that is only increasing every year, even when 87% (as per National Family Health Survey 2019-21) of the women who face Domestic Violence still do not report or seek help.

“Sexually abused, beaten if resisted by the alcoholic husband, finally got kicked out of the house, had to stay in my car till I could rent a place” recollects a Senior Executive of an MNC as she spoke about her struggle with violence and the journey of trauma to end the marriage.

Domestic Violence is not limited to a particular class, caste, region or religion, the fact is the stigma, social constrains, family obligations, financial dependency has forced women not to speak out but silently suffer without help. Sumathi (name changed) an Engineer working in an IT Firm had approached an NGO seeking help to file a case against her abusive husband, the law enforcing agencies were forcing a compromise and asking her to adjust with her husband instead of implementing the law and giving her protection.

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 was enacted in Parliament on 26^th October 2006, where the Act defined ‘Domestic Violence’ for the first time in Indian law, it includes physical violence, emotional, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse, and it is a civil law with protection orders and not criminal enforcement.

Over 12 lakh cases have been registered ever since the Act got passed in 2006, and millions of stories of trauma that never entered records of any police station. As on July 2022 over 4.71 lakh cases are pending the courts across the country based on the data submitted by the National Legal Services Authority before the Supreme Court of India.

There are several provisions in the law to punish crime against women, but reporting, journey for justice and conviction rate is not encouraging enough for most to seek legal help. ‘Whenever I went to the police or asked help, the standard response I got was - think about your children, think about your future, if we take action, you may not have a home to stay’ says the 37-year-old woman who liberated herself from violence, worked as cook for few years and now drives a cab for a living.

The lack of gender sensitization among the law enforcers, socio-legal process, near to no support system, the stigma and the ‘Cycle of Abuse’ has re-enforced normalization of Domestic Violence over several decades. The normalization of Domestic Violence is so entrenched in our society that both the victim and the relatives of the victim find no fault in the abuser and will consider all kinds of reasons to justify the acts of the abuser. The Cycle of Abuse clearly demonstrates how the process of normalization is also propagated by the abuser and how the victim falls prey to the propaganda of normalization, thereby encouraging generations of abusers.

Sadly, cases of Domestic Violence do not take political or media space, it gets restricted to research and survey reports unless the perpetrator or victim is high profile. Domestic Violence is not just violence on an individual, it is indeed an act on the society itself, because children and young relatives growing up in the atmosphere of violence have the greatest chance to be the perpetrators or victims themselves.

Every act of violence that goes unnoticed, unreported, unattended, and unpunished becomes an acceptable norm in any society, hence Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in real terms only aims at Protection and not Stopping or Ending the violence.

Law makers, enforcers and justice system have a greatest responsibility to be the voice of the politically and socially muted half the population of the country, unless the social hierarchy is not questioned any number of laws, policies, and acts will not render justice to the silently suffering victims of Domestic Violence. The quote of Abhijit Naskar a Neuroscientist & Author “Behind every man alive and kicking, there is a woman. Behind every woman abused and killed, there is a man,” will continue to haunt human race forever unless women are liberated from the Cycle of Abuse.

Kavitha Reddy

www.KavithaReddy.in Published in Deccan Herald on 3rd Jan 2024

Karnataka BJP; Discontent, Dynasty, Caste, Narrative!

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:32:00 +0000

B S Yediyurappa fought against corruption, now his son will, BJP fought against dynasty politics, henceforth B S Yediyurappa’s son will!

Coronation of B Y Vijayendra as Karnataka state BJP chief has given rise to serious decent among the very vocal BJP Leaders of Karnataka, absence of Senior Leaders in the party office when B Y Vijayendra took charge indicated that all is not well in Karnataka BJP unit. C T Ravi from Vokkaliga community and National General Secretary who was defeated in the assembly elections was aspiring to be the state BJP chief, Basangouda Patil Yatnal the Lingayat strongman who always spoke against B S Yediyurappa and his family was eying the post of Leader of Opposition. Both these Leaders have been the favorites of the Hindutva brigade and have never left an opportunity to express their hyper nationalism, anti-minority stand and whipped emotions in the name of Hindutva.

The BJP High Command choice for its party chief in Karnataka not only nullifies their allegation of corruption or dynasty politics on Congress, it exposes BJP double speak and its inability to consider Leaders from Dalit or OBC communities to lead its state unit, and appointing R Ashoka a Vokkaliga (Gowda) as Leader of Opposition has led to more disgruntle voices on lack of representation of Dalit and OBC communities in Karnataka BJP unit.

Prime Minster Modi’s constant remarks and calling Congress anti-Dalit on every occasion seems baseless, inappropriate, and awkward for most, at least for Karnataka BJP, given that AICC President is a Dalit, the longest serving KPCC President is a Dalit and Congress in Karnataka has ensured inclusive representation of all communities in both in party and government.

While BJP High Command had an option of B Sriramalu, Arvind Limbavali, Kota Srinivas Poojary, Shobha Karandlaje (under woman quota) to head the state unit and Govind Karjol, Sunil Kumar for Leader of Opposition what made them choose a Lingayat and a Vokkaliga (Gowda) ratifies the deliberate effort to appease the two powerful communities and safe guard the vote bank for until Lok Shaba Elections in 2024.

One can argue that BJP High Command has cornered itself by restricting the top posts to two powerful communities, alternate view is that both Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities are opposing the release of caste census vehemently and appointment B Y Vijayendra and R Ashoka can be seen as an opportunity to consolidate the votes of both communities based on how the release of caste census report plays out across the state. It seems like a gamble which could go horribly wrong if the much raked up hype against the release of caste census fizzles out and if OBC and Dalit communities welcome the report and favor the Congress in 2024 Lok Shaba Elections.

The infighting in the Karnataka BJP unit, lack of clarity and narrative on the release of caste census among the BJP’s OBC and Dalit Leaders, ethical bankruptcy on corruption and dynasty politics and most importantly a strong perception that BJP leaning towards forward-communities can further fade the already diminishing Modi wave.

Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana are critical for BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Shaba Elections, as the stakes are not only high but BJP has yet again entered the assembly election naming its schemes as ‘Modi Guarantee’ and seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Modi.

Irrespective of who wins the assembly election in the 5 states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana there will be a paradigm shift in the political calculations for the Lok Shaba Elections, even as BJP is speaking about Union Government framing the rules for the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by March 2024 thereby trying its best to keep the emotive anti-minority narrative alive.

With both external and internal factors playing out, most Leaders in Karnataka BJP are in a catch 22 situation, only time will tell if the urge to defeat B Y Vijayendra Leadership is stronger than fighting the elections to give Prime Minister Modi another term.

Kavitha Reddy

KPCC General Secretary (views are personal)

Counting the Uncounted

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 04:16:00 +0000

Dark Digital Lending Apps; Debt to Death

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 04:25:00 +0000

Women Empowerment; Equity a leap towards Equality

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:13:00 +0000

Women are 50% of the population in India, but the issues concerning women have not been a point of serious debate for long, policies to ensure larger participation of women in all social, economic, political sectors and in workforce is discouraged by people with patriarchal mindset. Talking about menstrual issues continues to be a taboo, any debate on menstrual leave policy and paid period leave is long contested, ignoring the statistics and refusing to acknowledge the biological challenges women face.

India’s women workforce participation has been the lowest in comparison to global numbers, unfortunately there is a further decline over the last 6 to 8 years. The reasons for the decline in female participation in the labour force are several - social, cultural, education, economic, hiring patterns, lack of pro-women policies, changing job market, lack of political will to enact policies to incentivize women employment etc.

And as women continue to enter the workforce in lesser numbers, it is important to acknowledge the biological challenges of women and the need for more equitable, comfortable working conditions and policies to promote women in workforce.

Studies show that more than 50% of mensurating females suffer from dysmenorrhea (pain associated with menstruation), over 65% of working women share concerns that they face discomfort and mental stress during 1-2 days of their menstrual cycle.

There are biological differences between men and women, women experiencing menstrual discomfort and suffering from illnesses related to menstruation (including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and mood disorders) will benefit from the menstrual leave policy. Every woman has different challenges at different time in life when it comes to menstrual issues, hence there is a need for more equitable and pro-woman policies that covers most women and more importantly the voiceless ones, this will indeed make us a more gender just and progressive State and Nation.

The history of menstrual leave policy debate is more than a century, it was first been implemented in Russia in 20^th century, it was removed in 1927 citing discrimination of women workforce by employers. In January 2023 Kerala granted menstrual leave for female students, in 1992 a GO was issued by Government of Bihar making provision for 2 days special leave for women working in government offices.

In 1947 Japan enacted the law to provide leave for mensurating women, but Article 68 of Labour Standard Law does not specify it as paid leave. Under Labour Act 2023, Article 13 in Indonesia women have right to 2 days leave per month but these are not additional leaves.

In Taiwan’s Gender Equality Act three additional days per year are granted to the 30 days of health-related leaves. In February 2023 Spain became the first country in Europe to implement a comprehensive menstrual paid leave policy for its women workforce. In Zambia since 2015 women are entitled for one day leave in a month know as Mother’s Day.

Some organizations in the private sector have embraced the demand for paid period leave acknowledging the biological challenges women employees face, also as a need to create more equitable work space for women, some of the examples being Zomato, Swiggy, Culture Machine, Mathrubhumi, Magzter, Byju's etc.

In January 2023, in response to a PIL filed in the Supreme Court, seeking the apex court direction to all State Governments to frame a policy for menstrual leave for female students and working women, and the Supreme Court on 24^thFebruary disposed the PIL suggesting the petitioner to make representation to Union Ministry for Women and Child Development.

Over many decades, efforts have been put in by the Governments, NGOs, Institutions to create awareness through campaigns and educational initiatives about menstrual hygiene, despite the efforts any discussion about menstruation is still taboo in our country. And the taboo nature continues in the society at large to neglect serious issues of menstrual problems women are undergoing for several decades.

One can understand that there is an argument against paid period leave, implementing it may discourage private companies from hiring women employees, for long across the globe organizations keep finding excuses to restrain from hiring women into their workforce and paid period leave could become one more reason and not a good one.

Many have been questioning the need for a policy now, when women have been working for decades without any such demand. But the fact is women have been suffering quietly trying to ‘fit in’ irrespective of the challenges, and as a civilized society we need to ask ourselves if we will continue to carry the patriarchy cycle forward or will we challenge status quo and make progress towards an equitable society.

Economic argument is that paid period leave can hinder businesses and increase financial burden, but when studies are saying women employee productivity can impact negatively due to menstruation, then the argument against paid period leave holds no water.

Also most importantly, Dr BR Ambedkar the architect of our constitution has ensured gender equity in our constitution, Article 15 (3) of the constitution states ‘Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children’, and Article 42 of the constitution states ‘The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief’.

Recently Ms. Ranjeeta Priyadarshini Law Student from Odisha who is travelling across India seeking support from every State Government to make Paid Period Leave a Legislation connected with me, after the release of a book on her sustained campaign by Pradeep Kumar Singh in Bengaluru.

Ranjeeta Priyadarshini and my interaction with Karnataka Labour Minister and the Health & Family Welfare Minister gave hope that there can be healthy and unbiased debate. Karnataka is a progressive State that always thrived on Buddha, Basavanna, Babasaheb, Kuvempu philosophy and thoughts, and it is important to recognize that gender equity is an important step towards gender equality. Karnataka Government indeed has a social responsibility to make Karnataka a pro-women workforce State and to ensure larger participation of women in the workforce by enacting equitable policies for its women.

No shying away from alternate views, economic and financial challenges and questions, pressure from across industries against the paid period leave, but if Government along with paid period leave considers incentives to organizations that employs more women, the concern of declining women participation and unwillingness to employ women across industries can also be addressed positively.

Only time will tell if Karnataka will be the 1^st State in India to pass a gender just and pro-women Paid Period Leave Legislation applicable for both government and private sector.

Kavitha Reddy

KPCC General Secretary

Children of Lesser Deity

noreply@blogger.com (Kavitha Reddy) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:28:00 +0000

Hate, violence, unrest is gripping India more than ever, centuries of tradition and cultural practices are painted with streaks of religious color damaging the social and cultural fabric of India. ‘Unity in Diversity’ had been our biggest strength, and the foundation of our Nation building was the celebration of our diversity and taking everyone along making it an inclusive India.

The diversity of India is so vast that almost every village has its own deity and cultural identity, most of these deities are mere stones or roughly carved images kept in open or under a tree without any permanent structures or could be obstruct items like bangles, tree, clay lump, coconut etc. These deities referred as Kuladevaru (deity of a caste or locality), Oorudevaru (deity of the village) are the deities of everyone in the village irrespective of religion and castes but for non-brahmins as the deities are offered animal sacrifice and rituals may be performed using animal blood.

People pray to these gods and goddesses as they believe that they are the protectors, saviors, and healers and are accessible to all. People irrespective of religion offer prayers to Maramma to heal their family member suffering from chickenpox, sacrifice an animal (mostly hen and sheep) to Muneeshwara seeking peace at home or to calm a naughty & stubborn child at home.

The famous Plague Maramma was prayed to save people dying from plague, Yellamma, Patalamma, Kariyamma, Nagappa, Kateramma, Bhadramma, Choudamma, Saplamma and many more of the Shudras worshiped deities believe to have their own unique powers to heal people who seek their blessings.

Emergence of Hindutva ideology propagating a single identity of religion and culture is becoming a threat to diverse identities of these Shudra's deities and the practices of the Shudras, where there is no set rituals or chanting of mantras, anyone could perform the pooja and make offerings of meat too. People from across faith seek blessings of these local deities which are blended into our cultural fabric locally across the nation. But the hyper Hindutva push is slowly painting the color of religion, and a burkha clad woman at the Nuggikere Hanumantha temple or bindi wearing woman at the dargah are forced to choose sides and color, disregarding their freedom, belief, and personal choices.

People across all faiths visit the ancient Kumaramangala temple in Kasargod to seek the blessing of snake god and escape the curse of snake, there are millions of such examples where people across faith praying to local deities as they truly believe in the power of these deities to protect, heal, and bless.

What we are experiencing today is a violent, disruptive Hindutva political ideology trying to enforce itself as a single Hindu narrative, the problem is not the political ideology itself, but the intent to capture power by destroying the harmony and diverse belief culture that has its deep roots in every village of India by misusing the Hindu religion is the real threat.

Dr Ambedkar said “religion is for man and not man for religion’’, forcefully installing saffron flags at will, questioning the beliefs of people from other faiths, intimidating, questioning the meat eaters, and even branding them evil, mocking them as converts are extremally dangerous trends we are witnessing. This reminds me of a very popular Kannada movie ‘Bedara Kannappa’ of Dr Rajkumar, where the hunter Kannappa offers meat to Lord Shiva. We were thought to believe that we can offer any kind of food to the deity with immense sincerity, love, gratitude, and the deity will accept it. If the fate of the believers in the current Hindutva hyper propaganda is this demonizing, imagine the people who are agnostic and who are non-believers.

From birth to death the practices of upper caste, Shudras, Dalits are not identical so are our deities, the practices in north, south, east, west of India is not identical either, when most of the Hindus bury the dead in the south, Hindus from north are unable to comprehend this practice. The deities of the Shudras are for protection, healing, blessing, whereas the Hindutva propaganda of gods is about heroism, curse, preaching, fear, and unless we do realize the cultural erosion the false narrative of Hindutva propaganda is causing, our diverse identity cannot be protected.

Tree with more branches always grows bigger, gives more shade, and houses more birds, like wise cultural diversity of India is her biggest strength and gives shade to all deities, practices, and beliefs, will our diversity allow a political Hindutva ideology to cut the Tree? only time will tell.

Kavitha Reddy