On the occasion of International Women’s Day, women legislators of the State were on the driving seat. While someone donned the Speaker’s chair, some preferred to reach Assembly riding a horse showcasing women strength.
Amba Prasad, the Barkagoan MLA surprised everyone as she reached the Assembly riding a horse. Amba, whose father (Yogendra Sao) and mother (Nirmala Devi) had represented Barkagoan is the third member from the Sao family to represent Barkagoan Assembly seat. As the Congress legislator reached the Assembly riding a horse people rushed to click her pictures.
Amba, who on earlier occasions had reached the Assembly riding cycle didn’t disappoint media persons. She said, “On the occasion of International Women’s Day I congratulate all fellow women. We should all work in removing gender discrimination from society.” Amba, the first time legislator, also announced that her NGO is working to strengthen widows financially.
However, the star attraction of the day was Jama MLA Sita Soren, who sat on the Speaker’s post for 40 minutes. Though it is a normal practice that when Speaker is not in his chair he assigns any MLAs to preside house functioning, however, it was coincidence that Sita Soren presided the House on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Sita Soren the eldest daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren has been representing the Jama Assembly seat in Dumka for three consecutive terms. She presided the House proceeding from 2.19 pm to 3 pm and when she was in chair the Opposition too chose not to stage any protest or create ruckus respecting women power on International Women Day.
Sita Soren comes from one of the strongest political families in the State as her brother-in-law is chief minister (Hemant Soren) and another brother-in-law (Basant Soren) represents Barhiat in the Assembly. When Sita was in chair BJP MLA Randhir Kumar Singh was speaking and discussion of cut motion on agriculture and animal husbandry department was going on. Followed by BJP legislator speech, Congress MLA from Khijri Rajesh Kachhap also raised a public interest issue during the chairmanship of Sita Soren in the House.
Not only women legislators, on the occasion of International Women’s Day fellow lawmakers too raised the issue of greater participation of fair sex in educational institutions and government jobs. AJSU MLA, Lambodar Mahto raising the issue demanded 33 per cent reservation for women in educational institutions and Government jobs. A BJP MLA requesting anonymity said, “A lot has to be done for women emancipation in Jharkhand. In Bihar women get reservation in panchayat and police services, but in Jharkhand we have still to enact law for women emancipation.”
In 81 members of Jharkhand Assembly the number of women legislators is only 10, which is around 12.5 per cent of total house strength. The Hemant Soren Cabinet too has only one woman minister.
