Although the news of lottery draw for 33% reservation of seats for women in two-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for Upper Siang district seems not that much significant since it’s only a routine administrative activity in run-up to the awaited two-tier PRI election in the state, it will not be wrong if it’s viewed as a reminder of certain thoughts that still hover around the idea of women empowerment in the country. Actually the phrase “33% reservation of seats for women” conjures up sad memories over a long unfulfilled dream of women reservation in parliament and state legislatures. It’s almost a decade-old now, but it will be hard to fancy when will the much awaited Women’s Reservation Bill be made into law. At the same time, it is also a reminder that Arunachal has changed the structure of its grassroots governance by making a departure from the current three-tier system to a two-tier one and the maiden PRI elections after this structural adjustment will thus be more important than earlier ones.

Much before the onset of general election mood this demand gathered storm as it did in earlier editions of LS polls and just as the parliament session commenced, the hope got reignited. But there are no solid indications, as of now, that the approaching session(s) might carry any real hope. Really, how can it be denied that the current preoccupations with comparatively ‘heavier issues’ might have pushed the bill backward in priority list. And even if this is hardly amazing, since that’s the way it had been since the Bill was first floated way back in 2010, its need in India’s socio-political canvas is absolutely incontestable. It will be encouraging to notice that women’s representation in current LS is 14.39, the best so far which is also an increase from 2014’s 12.5%. But this is nowhere near to the 33% dream which will be arguably a great leap forward for the weaker gender who actually represents nearly half of total population. But thankfully enough, in case of PRIs, by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, 33% women are the decision-makers in matters of local self-governance, with blanket application all over the country. More hearteningly, there are currently 20 states that follow a 50% reservation pattern including Assam, Tripura and Sikkim from Northeast. It has been proved time and again, through facts and figures that women representatives have proved to be better ‘ambassadors of progress’ than their male counterparts.

It would be welcomed if Arunachal also mulls the idea of a 50% women reservation in its PRIs just as it would be if Women’s Reservation Bill is given a serious thought. Unfulfilled dreams though, in democracy, yearnings for progressive aspirations must never be relinquished.