Gender inequality continues to be a reality in the State’s political system but the 2017 elections have broken the stereotype, at least to a certain extent. If BJP has fielded just one woman candidate, Congress is going in with three, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) has given an opportunity to five women candidates.
From the first runner up of the Dance India Dance Super Mom 2013 to a retired central government officer and an ex-international hockey player, an architect, a former village sarpanch, and a food consultant-cum-food stylist, AAP has chosen them to take up the election challenge against the opponent bigwigs. After a successful profession, these ladies have now jumped into the political fray with a motive “to clean the crippled political system”.
Loretta D’Souza, retired IRS officer and an ex-hockey player representing India at international level is contesting from Vasco while Royla Fernandes – an architect and ex-Sarpanch of Cana-Benaulim is a candidate from Benaulim constituency. Shraddha Khalap, Daughter-in-law of congress’ former union minister Ramakant Khalap is ready to ‘clean sweep’ her opponents in Mapusa whereas Rosy Ursula D’Souza and Cecile Rodrigues are the ‘broom’ candidates from Aldona and Taleigao respectively.
Herald spoke to the dynamic personalities in the midst of their door-to-door campaign and found they have tapped on one common problem in their respective constituencies – sanitation. In what could be an embarrassment to successive governments, certain parts of the main cities and towns lack toilet facilities with women forced to defecate in the open. “Some houses do not have toilets, and the sewage and drainage lines are choked up. It is more than hygiene problem in the constituency as women have no choice but to defecate in open,” Vasco candidate Loretta said.
The commercial hub of Mapusa falls in the same category with Shraddha claiming that the ground work during the campaigning process led her to this disturbing reality. “The people of Mapusa are denied basic facilities such as proper supply of electricity and water. But what disturbs me is lack of toilets in several houses. Many women use the toilets in the main market. It is such an embarrassment to them particularly during the busy hours,” she expressed.
The apathy is also visible in the remote places of Taleigao where Cecile stated that past legislators have miserably failed to provide the locals a hygiene living. “People in Odxel defecate in near the beach or hill. There is no sanitation… Around 60 families have just 3-4 toilets,” she rued.
Shraddha, mother of two underaged children, after closely witnessing court trials in the Supreme Court and state courts is now on a cleaning mission. “The BJP and Congress have fooled the people of Goa. My husband (Advocate Srinivas Khalap) having Congress background, had approached the party (when it was in the ruling at Centre) to take up a lot of issues but in vain…. I have seen that the common men are frustrated with the day-to-day corruption,” the 33-year-old food consultant-cum-food stylist said.
After completing higher studies in the UK and moving to Delhi where she was associated with Jan Lokpal Andolan, Shraddha shifted to Goa about six years ago to join AAP as a volunteer. She wants to replicate Delhi’s electricity billing, water supply system and health care facilities to Goa if voted to power.
Cecile, who worked with an airline, has taken up the issue of water scarcity in the constituency alleging that women wake up as early as 3am to fill waters. The Vasco residents, Loretta said, also suffer water crisis. “Women have to wake up early in the morning to fill waters… Vasco is the worst city. There is garbage and mosquito menace. There are no public toilets, no parking and only encroachments…. What are we giving the locals and tourists,” she questioned vowing to solve the problem.
Shraddha too pointed out at the water problem prevailing in the deputy chief minister Francisco D’Souza ruled constituency.
Benaulim candidate Royla, a village Sarpanch from 2012-2014 too wishes for a better change. “The eastern part of River Sal has become a sewage channel. Wastes from Margao and Benaulim have contaminated the beautiful river. Ninety nine percent waste comes from Margao. The city stinks,” she said promising to cleanse the constituency. An architect by profession, Royla – a single mother of 10 and 8 year old daughters – is a post graduate diploma in management and currently pursuing law degree. With high educational qualification, the 37-year-old wants to revive agriculture while also start ‘fish drying yards’ and ‘fish storing units’ for the locals.
Conceding it is a tough fight, the women speak in one voice ‘one has to get their hands dirty to clean the muck in politics.’
