Fair play
By Neha Verma
Women are racing ahead of men in all the fields now-a-days. Now the efforts are on to put them ahead in politics as well. With 10 per cent women in Ministerial positions in 2009, India is looking forward to more women leaders. To raise the participation of women in politics, the Centre for Social Research (CSR) has launched the first ever online course on political leadership for women.
The web-based course is a joint project of the Government of India, United Nations Democracy Fund, United Nation Development Programme, Centre for Social Research and WomenPowerConnect (WPC), which aims to build the capacities of women and encourage them to join politics.
FEATURES
This course is free of cost. It has seven modules that cover the basic elements of political participation, gender and leadership. It is based on self-registration of users. The URL of the course is www.womenleadership.in.
Before registering, a student can have a look at the demo version which demonstrates the organisation of the course. It also contains videos, studying materials, appendices and many exercises where a student can test her acquired knowledge. The course is interactive with regular chats and discussion forums. The students can communicate with teachers through assignments or e-mails. They can also communicate with other students through chats and forums.
To qualify for the next module, a test has to be qualified at the end of each chapter. Until the test is successfully finished, students cannot progress to the next module.
The course is made in context to the urban woman and hence the language of instruction is English.
The seven modules cover the basic elements of political participation, gender and leadership. Through discussions and exercises, students are encouraged to expand on the themes by applying them to their own goals and local communities.
The course content will provide information about women leaders who have shaped India’s history and the various social roles and identities that we possess. It will outline the current political framework and various levels at which women can engage. The course will also cover skills such as communication and goal-setting that will be necessary to begin this new journey. It will be available in many languages and formats to reach out to all segments of the society.
Why it is needed?
The last two years saw CSR organise a series of 30 capacity building workshops on political leadership throughout the country engaging over 1,000 women leaders. WPC, a network of over 900 women and women’s groups as its members, helped CSR in identifying participant women from across the country. Women in leadership roles, for example, women from academics, NGOs, media, trade unions etc, were selected with special emphasis given to women in Panchayati Raj and aspiring members of political parties at various levels.
“Women in India were not exposed to leadership skills for a very long time and were confined within the four walls of the household. Then came a phase when women were looked on as potential vote banks and politicians made optimum use of this opportunity. Now, the time has come when these women have to come out and participate actively in political decision-making. These capacity building and leadership trainings are, therefore, extremely imperative to ensure equal representation for both men and women in politics,” said Renuka Choudhary, former Minister for Women and Child Development.
The course seeks to bridge the information gap and empower women to become future leaders. It is targeting women with political leadership interests who seek to understand the options available to them and the required steps they need to take.
“The course in political leadership is meant for all those who seek foundational information and knowledge to bolster personal goals. Our online course will act as a springboard for women looking for ways to develop their leadership skills and knowledge. It would also give them a platform to understand the dynamics of political processes,” says Dr Ranjana Kumari, Director, and Centre for Social Research and President.
Prospects
Women have held crucial roles in shaping Indian history and current society, yet are vastly under-represented in political decision-making bodies. This course acts as a springboard by providing key foundational knowledge from which to grow. The CSR and UNDEF seek to foster a community of women empowered by their rights and equipped with the confidence, determination and skill to lead.
It encourages an open understanding of leadership and emphasises that all women possess the potential to become leaders and they need to find their voices. The course seeks to empower women by combining knowledge-building and skill-building. The course acknowledges major challenges women face in politics, including discrimination and corruption, and provides tools and mechanisms with which they can overcome these obstacles.
Under the same project, the WPC has also been actively lobbying with political parties to increase seats for women within parties and pushing for the passage of 33 per cent Reservation Bill. “We are hopeful that this course will reach out to a large number of potential women leaders and will significantly increase the number of women in political roles from both the grassroots and legislative levels,” says Dr N Hamsa, executive director, WPC.
