According to Election Commissioner Ila Sharma, following the enforcement of the new policy, all activities of the commission will be inclusive from gender as well as other perspectives. “Now we have a formal framework for guiding the EC on issues of gender and inclusiveness,” she told Republica.
As per the recently endorsed policy, the commission will proportionally accommodate concerns of all men, women and third gender from all classes, regions and communities in the electoral process. [break]
“Gender balance and inclusiveness will be kept in mind while there will be appointments or replacements of commissioners and other staff,” states the policy.
As per the policy, EC will reshuffle the current secretariat and will develop a separate mechanism to give emphasis on gender balance and inclusiveness.
EC can form a seven-member coordination committee headed by an election commissioner in order to implement the policy effectively.
The policy states that EC will take necessary initiatives to create environment for men, women and third gender from Dalit, marginalized, oppressed communities for their fair participation in all electoral process.
EC will ensure the rights of all men, women and third gender to represent and be represented without any discrimination, says the policy.
The policy has envisioned developing the commission as a gender sensitive institution on the basis of proportional representation of all men, women and third gender from all classes, regions and communities.
The commission will incorporate necessary provisions in election related acts, rules and regulations in order to address the concerns of all men, women and third gender.
As per the policy, EC will keep records of men, women and third gender voters separately. “We will field teams along with election observers to study the situation,” said Sharma.
According to her, EC will come up with an action plan regarding the policy as soon as possible.
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