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Panel 3:
Issues
Related to Political Rights and Representation of Scheduled castes,
Scheduled Tribes, Women and Religious Minorities: Under-representation,
nominal representation, consequences and assessment of present policies
Political rights are the rights exercised in the formation and
administration of a government. These include the right to contest and
vote in elections, to participate in governance as an elected
representative, the right to join a political party; run for office; and
participate freely in political rallies, events, or protests. Political
rights are closely tied to citizenship rights.
The
contemporary political issues of the scheduled caste, scheduled tribes,
women and religious minorities and other marginalized communities relate
to unequal access to political rights, and political representation in
legislature and in executive, and these will form the focus of
discussions under this theme.
The
papers will discuss the dimension of unequal presence and participation
of the SC/ST/Women /religious minorities in the political sphere, beside
restrictions in one form or another on the right to vote, or the right
to get elected, and represent in legislature and executive in effective
ways.
The
electoral politics is increasingly getting influenced by caste and
religious considerations. This invariably results in majoritarian rule
with communal-majority party or parties coming to power, thus posing
danger to the equal political rights of caste, ethnic, and religious
minorities. The papers will also discuss the caste and communal base of
political democracy and examine how it undermines the interest of the
SC/ST/ and religious minorities.
There is
talk about replacing the parliamentary system by presidential system in
our country. In fact in some states at the panchayat and municipality
level the elections of the sarpanch and mayor are direct. A direct
election shall invariably help to elect a sarpanch and mayor from the
majority caste or religion. The panelists will examine the implication
of such a development on the representation of scheduled caste,
scheduled tribes, religious minorities and other marginalised
communities.
The
papers will also discuss the issue of under-representation of women and
Muslims in central and state assemblies. Under this theme the papers
will also discuss the effectiveness of political reservation through
Joint Electorate, in electing ‘genuinely active’ representatives of
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in various constituencies.
This
session will run for three days through parallel session. During these
three days we expect to have about 12 parallel sessions, (three sessions
each for SC, ST women and religious minorities) and about three Keynote
and special lectures on this theme. |
