Advocacy and Political Empowerment of Women
The department works on designing strategies and undertaking advocacy and campaigns for political empowerment of women.
What is the Women’s Reservation Bill?
The Women’s Reservation Bill (WRB), i.e. the The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill 2008, proposes to reserve a minimum of 33% seats for women in Parliament and in State Legislative Assemblies. The Bill was first introduced in Parliament 23 years ago and, has not yet been converted into an Act, due to negligence from all successive governments, strong opposition from various political parties in the past as well as strong patriarchal norms prevailing in society.
If the Bill gets passed by Parliament and in more than half of the State Legislative Assemblies, and gets converted into an act, it is destined to bring revolutionary change in the Indian social structure. As a result of this act coming into effect, at least 33% policy makers in Parliament and in State Legislative Assemblies will be women and this change of demographic equation in legislatures will have far reaching implications on social indicators of India.
Passage of Women’s Reservation Bill is directly related to “SDG- 5” of the United Nations and the gender equality pledge prevailing at national and international forums. The Indian government is a signatory to all international conventions to ensure gender equality in the country.
Goals:
Through advocacy and campaigning, CSR aims to:
Get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the national and state legislatures.
Have political parties provide at least 33% tickets to female candidates
Increase political representation of women in the internal affairs of political parties
Increase the role played by women in policy/decision making at all levels of government
Geographical Domain and Target Population:
The department works across the country, in all 29 States and 7 Union Territories of India. It communicates and advocates with citizens of all genders in India, with an aim to seek support in favor of the goals of the division.
Activities:
Although the campaign is presently most focused on passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, it undertakes advocacy on the National, State, Panchayati Raj/Urban Local Bodies, and grassroots levels, for achieving all of its goals.
WRB is focused on:
Generating political pressure across India so that political parties and governments pass the Bill rather than letting it be in cold storage.
Generating a politically conducive environment for passage of the Bill.
Seeking support from political parties for passage of the Bill.
Generating awareness among people and common citizens at the grassroots and Panchayati Raj Institution level through print, electronic and social media channels.
Generating demand for the passage of the Bill from all sections of the Indian society.
Campaigning with the Election Commission to introduce electoral reforms.
Communicating with stakeholders through documentation (preparing Women’s Charter and Women’s Manifesto).
National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill:
The National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill was formed to undertake advocacy and campaign throughout India. The Alliance has more than 1500 organizations and individuals as members, with Centre for Social Research as one of the leading partners of the Alliance.
Advocacy and Campaign at four levels:
At the national level, Centre for Social Research, New Delhi, undertook following activities:
Letter Campaign with Prime Minister’s Office (Har Din Prasoon campaign)
Meeting with Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovindji
Memorandum dispatched to Hon’ble President and to Hon.ble Prime Minister
Letter and email campaign with Members of Parliament
Meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) , Speaker of Lok Sabha and Ministers of Government of India
Meeting with Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, New Delhi
Requested (Mail/face to face meeting) Lok Sabha MPs to raise questions regarding re-tabling of the Bill in the Lok Sabha for discussion and voting
Drafted parliament questions and made it available to MPs to raise them in the Parliament
Meeting with political heavy weights such as Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi from INC, Mr. KC Tyagi from JDU, Ms. Sharmistha Mukherjee from INC
Meeting with Chief Election Commissioner of India and with Deputy Chief Election Commissioner at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi to request them to undertake electoral reforms to ensure equal representation for women
Visited Head Office of National Party like INC, BJP, BSP, AAP, JDU and submitted memorandum and letters requesting an appointment
Protest meet at New Delhi
Organized Press Conferences in New Delhi
Press Release circulated from time to time for highlighting of issues
Ensured huge media coverage of WRB in electronic and print media
Ensured social media advocacy through Facebook, Twitter and through online petition /offline signature campaign
Live Tweet/ live Facebook programme (in July 2017), in attendance with Alliance partners
Program conducted at Constitution Club of India to issue appeal to government for passage of WRB
Undertook “Call your MP” campaign
Undertook “Message your MP” campaign
Preparation of “Women’s Charter” and Women’s Manifesto i.e. “WOMANIFESTO” and its circulation to political parties, leaders, Members of Parliament and opinion makers
At the state level, advocacy is important because in order for the Bill to be converted into an Act, it has to be passed by more than half of the State Legislatures. Taking this into consideration, Centre for Social Research undertook following activities:
Programs organized in 10 states that includes Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
Letters / Memorandum sent to Chief Ministers of States
Signature Campaign conducted with MLAs across 29 States of India
Coordination and partnership with local NGOs Adithi in Patna , Pradaan in Jharkhand , Haryana Vikas Manch in Haryana, Mamta Vidha, Jhansi in UP, Jan Chetna Sansthan Abu Road in Rajasthan, Tarun Chetna, Prataapgarh, Uttar Pradesh and others for better outreach to locals, PRI/ULB members, local SHG women
At the Panchayati Raaj Institution Level/Urban Local Body Level, advocacy has been very important. This is because, as a result of 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Act, seats are being reserved for women of India during Panchayati Raaj Institution (PRI) and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections. It has been a great breakthrough in the history of India, and as part of our strategy we are seeking support of elected PRI and ULB representatives. For this purpose, “Centre for Social Research, New Delhi” undertook following activities:
Massive Letter Campaign (Panch Ke Dwaar Campaign) throughout India- 2700 letters have been dispatched through registered post to elected Panchayat Heads across 29 states of India
Invited PRI/ULB elected members as speakers in state level programs and at national level programs
Involved PRI/ULB representatives in massive signature campaign throughout India
At grassroots level, Centre for Social Research worked with citizens and students and organized the following activities:
Meeting with RWAs/civilian groups
Signature Campaign at public places
Nukkad Natak at public places
One-to-one campaign at all other programmes and social events
Programme organized at colleges
Local State Partners:
Our local state partners for organizing programs and for conducting signature campaigns are the following:
Andhra Pradesh
Vasavya Mahila Mandali
Bihar
Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas parishad
Adithi
Shikshansh
Chhatisgarh
Vikas Asha Sewa Sansthan
Mahila Shiksha Kalyan Evam Prashikhan Parishad
Sanskriti Mahila Samiti
Haryana
Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Samiti
Karnataka
Ananya Mahila Okkutta
Global Concerns India
Madhya Pradesh
Gender Resource Centre
Child Rights Observatory Madhya Pradesh
Mahila Chetna Manch
Rajasthan
Jan Chetna Sansthan
Vikalp
Uttar Pradesh
Gramin Punarnirman Sansthan
Tarun Chetna
Asian Bridge
Vikas Dhara Vida Mahila Sansthan
Prayas Prashikshan Samiti
Gramin Vikas Awam Parisshan Sansthan
Rashtriye Asahay Sewashram Parishad
Jan Shisha Kendra
Jharkhand
Adithi
Pradaan
Social media campaign:
In an attempt to generate public awareness about the Women’s Reservation Bill, Centre for Social Research has undertaken a social media campaign Twitter and Facebook. The handles for each social media account are:
Twitter – Time33Percent
Facebook – Time33Percent
Campaign through documentation
MANIFESTO:
As one of the leading members of the National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill, Centre for Social Research spearheaded preparation of Women’s Charter and Women’s Manifesto (MANIFESTO) that includes women’s demands from governments and political parties. The draft was circulated among members of the alliance throughout India and has been endorsed by the alliance.
The alliance also appealed to political parties to pass Women’s Reservation Bill as well as to refer to the WOMANIFESTO while preparing their election manifestoes.
Survey:
In order to document public opinion and awareness surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill, Centre for Social Research is conducting an online and offline survey in the months of June and July, through its social media channels and partners. Following the survey, an analysis will be conducted on the data collected.
Advocacy and Campaign at four levels:
National Level Campaign
Centre for Social Research, New Delhi, undertook following activities under National Level campaign
Letter Campaign with Prime Minister’s Office (Har Din Prasoon campaign)
Meeting with Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovindji
Memorandum dispatched to Hon’ble President and to Hon.ble Prime Minister
Letter Campaign with Members of Parliament
Email Campaign with MPs of Lok Sabha
Meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) ,Speaker of Lok Sabha, Ministers of Government of India
Meeting with Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, New Delhi
Requested (Mail/face to face meeting) Lok sabha MPs to raise questions regarding re-tabling of the Bill in Lok Sabha for discussion and voting
Drafted parliament questions and made it available to MPs to raise them in the Parliament.
Meeting with political heavy weights e.g. Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi from INC, Mr. KC Tyagi from JDU, Ms. Sharmistha Mukherjee from INC
Meeting with Chief Election Commissioner of India and with Deputy Chief Election Commissioner at Nirvachan Sadan , New Delhi to request them to undertake electoral reforms to ensure equal representation for women
Visit to Head Office of National Party like INC, BJP, BSP ,AAP ,JDU and submitted memorandum and request for appointment letter
Protest meet at New Delhi
Organized Press Conferences in New Delhi
Press Release circulated from time to time for highlighting of issues
Ensured huge media coverage of WRB in electronic and print media
Ensured social media advocacy through face book ,twitter handler and through online petition /offline signature campaign
Live tweet/ live facebook programme (in July 2017) , in attendance with Alliance partners
Program conducted at Constitution Club of India to issue appeal to government for passage of WRB
Undertook “Call your MP” campaign
Undertook “Message your MP” campaign
Preparation of “Women’s Charter” and Women’s Manifesto i.e. “WOMANIFESTO” and its circulation to political parties, leaders, Members of Parliament and opinion makers
State Level Campaign
To be converted into Act, the Bill has to be passed by more than half of the State Legislatures. Taking into consideration of this fact Centre for Social Research undertook following activities under State Level campaign
Programs organized in 10 states that includes Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
Letters / Memorandum sent to Chief Ministers of States
Signature Campaign conducted with MLAs across 29 States of India
Coordination and partnership with local NGOs Adithi in Patna , Pradaan in Jharkhand , Haryana Vikas Manch in Haryana, Mamta Vidha, Jhansi in UP, Jan Chetna Sansthan Abu road in Rajasthan , Tarun Chetna ,Prataapgarh, Uttar Pradesh and others for better outreach to local people and for reaching out to PRI/ULB members , local SHG women, and to local residents
Local state partners for organizing programs and for conducting signature campaigns
Andhra Pradesh
Vasavya Mahila Mandali
Bihar
Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas parishad
Adithi
Shikshansh
Chhatisgarh
Vikas Asha Sewa Sansthan
Mahila Shiksha Kalyan Evam Prashikhan Parishad
Sanskriti Mahila Samiti
Haryana
Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Samiti
Karnataka
Ananya Mahila Okkutta
Global Concerns India
Madhya Pradesh
Gender Resource Centre
Child Rights Observatory Madhya Pradesh
Mahila Chetna Manch
Rajasthan
Jan Chetna Sansthan
Vikalp
Uttar Pradesh
Gramin Punarnirman Sansthan
Tarun Chetna
Asian Bridge
Vikas Dhara Vida Mahila Sansthan
Prayas Prashikshan Samiti
Gramin Vikas Awam Parisshan Sansthan
Rashtriye Asahay Sewashram Parishad
Jan Shisha Kendra
Jharkhand
Adithi
Pradaan
Panchayati Raaj Institution Level/Urban Local Body Level Campaign
As a result of 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Act, seats are being reserved for women of India during “Panchayati Raaj Institution (PRI)” and “Urban Local Body (ULB)” elections. It has been a great breakthrough in the history of India, and as part of our strategy we are seeking support of elected PRI and ULB representatives
For the purpose, “Centre for Social Research, New Delhi” undertook following activities
Massive Letter Campaign (Panch Ke Dwaar Campaign) throughout India- 2700 letters have been dispatched through registered post to elected Panchayat Heads spreading across all the 29 states of India
PRI/ULB elected members invited as speakers in state level programs and at National level programs
PRI/ULB representatives have been involved in massive signature campaign throughout India
Campaign at grass root level/ with citizens and with students
Following activities were undertaken by Centre for Social Research for campaign at grass root level Meeting with RWAs/Civilian Groups
Signature Campaign at public places
Nukkad Natak at public places
One to One campaign at all other programmes and social events
Programms organized at colleges
Social media campaign
Centre for Social Research is undertaking massive social media campaign through the handles of twitter and Facebook, addresses of the social media handles as follows
Twitter – Time33Percent
Facebook – Time33Percent (page)
Campaign through Documentation
As one of the leading members of “National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill” , Centre for Social Research spearheaded preparation of Women’s Charter and Women’s Manifesto (MANIFESTO) that include women’s demands and from governments and political parties. The draft had been circulated to members of the alliance throughout India and has been endorsed by the alliance.
The alliance, through a collective voice has appealed to government to fulfill women’s demands mentioned in the WOMANIFESTO, and also appealed to political parties to pass Women’s reservation Bill as well as to refer the document while preparing their election manifestoes.