New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) Lieutenant General Madhuri Kanitkar, a retired General Officer from the Indian Army and the third woman to reach a Three-star rank, stated on Saturday that reservation is essential from the grassroots level in civil services and governance. She emphasized its significance, arguing that equal opportunities are lacking in these domains.

In a conversation with IANS, Kanitkar addressed the recent defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, describing its failure as a temporary setback.

"I believe it won’t be permanent because the concept of reservation for women is fundamentally positive and significant," she remarked.

She pointed out that new initiatives often face resistance and apprehension.

"It’s unrealistic to expect universal agreement. Therefore, it’s a matter of 'Der Hai Andher Nahi' (it is late but never too late)," she added.

Kanitkar asserted that this reservation could be pivotal for female voters, asserting that it would change the dynamic so that "women will no longer vote merely for men to govern them."

She expressed that this would instill a sense of importance among women and encourage young girls to pursue opportunities in governance from the grassroots level.

The former Army officer also compared the representation of women in politics to their presence in the armed forces.

She noted that within the military, beyond resistance, there were apprehensions not solely related to gender or competence.

"Concerns also stem from the logistical support necessary. When integrating women into combat roles, adequate infrastructure is required. This issue doesn’t arise in politics, where basic facilities are not a concern," Kanitkar explained.

"Once opportunities are equitable, I believe reservation will no longer be necessary," she observed.

Reflecting on her journey in a male-dominated environment, Kanitkar credited her achievements to two key factors: "Competence has always been valued, and there were equal opportunities at the foundational level."

She further stressed that there was no selection bias.

"For military training or postgraduate education, opportunities were equally available. Once equal opportunities are established, confidence grows, and expectations for reservations diminish," the former Army officer stated.

Kanitkar also noted the significant gap between the appointments of the three women generals in the Army.

She commended the rising number of female appointments in combat roles.

"Look at how dramatically it has increased since then. Today, we have a woman leading the medical corps, another as the DG of the Navy, and a woman who previously held the position of DG of the Army," she stated.

Thus, "It is about empowering women from the grassroots, fostering future leaders, rather than relying on reservation," she emphasized.

Nonetheless, the former Army officer reiterated that in civil organizations or governance, reservation is crucial from the grassroots due to the absence of equal opportunities.