The topic for next week's forum which is to appear on Saturday is:

Rajeev Bhargav: Of course it would help boost women empowerment. Whenever a single person does some work beyond his/her status it becomes an example and it always encourages the society. Obviously being President Pratibha Patil would work for the upliftment of women. But every coin has its two sides. It is a well known fact the position of women has improved. They are now strong enough to take up positions in any field including politics. Now, they are more advanced; they are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men. In this situation the laws too have been framed for their safety and security. However, in some cases these laws are being misused also and simple men falling victims to cunning women. Cases of false dowry, rape are being reported. So things are not in a good shape.

OP Mehra: This refers to the assumption of the office of the President by Mrs Pratibha Patil. It is natural to assume augmentation of the power of women in our country. We are happy that Mrs Patil is the first ever woman President and hope that she will establish traditions resolving the often arising difference between the President and the Govt in power.

Usually it is a matter of political importance that leads to such differences. So far we have been assuming that usually the President should follow the dictates of the ruling govt but there is a strong opinion in a section of the population feeling rather discontented arrangement. Mrs Patil will have to face more of this due to her being a woman expected to lead a crusade in protection of the women power might feel disheartend at the prospect of the ruling govt having the freedom to listen or not to listen her wishes in such matters. The real test that lies ahead is in the passing of the "women's reservation bill pending before the Parliament.

Meera Iyer: Womenfolk of India now-a-days are not ignorant and innocent but they have courage to do any type of work - may be in sky, air or land that is to say they can show their efficiency in every field because of their acquiring knowledge.

Gone are the days when women were put inside the four walls of the houses as housewives but now the whole world is free for them to show their talents.

Looking at the capacity of women we can proudly say that Pratibha Patil, our present President, with all her talents, will try to bring forth womenfolk and remove illiteracy, poverty and harassment against women.

Daily news give us reports of raping of young children, teenagers as well as grown up ladies. As such in each and every place terror prevails and the minds of the womenfolk is put in trouble as what to do and what not.

Our humble appeal to our President is to bring in immediately quick relief to the womenfolk and save their lives from different kinds of atrocities.

Alka Dixit: This is not the first time that India has a woman leader at the highest post. Indira Gandhi stayed Prime Minister for 10 long years. What did she do specially for women? Look at history- women were treated as second citizens in the past and the same trend continues in present and would continue probably in future too.

Why the male-dominating Parliament is not passing the Women Reservation Bill?. Why the percentage of women is so low in Parliament? At the top only 15pc women are there. It's really pity that they are doing nothing substantial for the upliftment of women. Yesterday there was a news of foreign calls girls racket being busted. Why women go for such degrading work? Selling themselves. Why can't our so-called women leaders think over these burning issues? A three-year-old girl is raped. Is it not the duty of our Govt to maintain law and order? Only few cities like Mumbai, and Bangalore, Pune are safe for girls, why not cities like Delhi, Kolkata?

Golda Meir of Israel, Margaret Thatcher of UK - did they do some real work for the upliftment of the womenfolk? Women can understand better the problems of their community but do they do something for their community? No. Only on papers that too for personal publicity or for their party agenda.

So it's my humble request to Mrs Pratibha Patil that the scenario should be changed and some hard core real work should be done for their own community at grassroot level.

Only morally we are happy that our President is a woman.

Arun Singh: Undoubtedly, our new elected President Mrs Pratibha Patil has `pratibha' which is required for the post of President but it is a baseless view that her election will boost women's empowerment.

Yes, it is a good start but just in opposite direction. For this we should start from the base, means we should reform our lower class and middle class womenfolk. We have to understand well that there are no differences between boys and girls and man and woman. We have to educate girls. We should give them equal chance to grow to express themselves, then it will be real empowerment.

Hence the election of Pratibha Patil will not empower the womenfolk.

Anil Purohit: The country's first woman President, a proud moment for all women in the nation. Surely it is milestone for women's empowerment in India as she did it earlier while being a Governor of Rajasthan. She has clearly mentioned her views and ideas in her Presidential speech. She was focusing on woman foeticide and malnutrition among children and women.

The emancipation of women is not a plain matter. It requires the attitudinal change in the society. Poor women in backward communities and lower castes, are mostly illiterate, untrained, and have very little social and economic status. Without meaningful skills, social status, and economic power, they are unable to do any business on their own even with financial assistance. The most priority sector is education of women, which is the grassroot problem. Given the opportunity resources, women can show their capability, which unfortunately is not prevalent in India, because of the mentality & prevalent social structure. So, the position of a President under her belt, I hope to foresee major sea changes in the status of Indian women.

Despite the difficulties that are encountered, well-planned initiatives & properly managed micro-level programme, especially for the rural women and socially accepted changes can succeed in empowering women under the leadership of President. In my view, women with the potential to make a real difference in the lives of their communities can even transform governance at the national level.

Deshmukh Mangesh Anilrao: The Presidential post is merely a ceremonial one in India. Real executive powers are vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Thus it is clear that the only one who will benefit is Pratibha Patil, the president is the UPA government not the women of India. We should not ignore that on the same day post of police commissioner of Delhi was denied to Kiran Bedi the first woman IPS officer in India. Indian society does not have a well-defined uniform attitude towards women. A section of society treats them as a plaything for a man, as an object to be treated as slaves or chattel. Another section believes that they are the better half of men and must be treated with respect. There is still a third section who worship women in theory but do not want to free them from male dominance. In states like Kerala women are quite emancipated but the Bihar, UP women are still backward. Empowerment of women must be seen so as to make them perfect and fulfill women's dreams. It should in no way make their lives devoid of moral substance. A woman must be able to take her responsibilities in life, fulfill her obligations towards her family and her nation. An emancipated, empowered women does not in any way mean a mere dressed doll for show and a hot house flower for beautification.

Amba Charan Vashishth: Yes, if only she had won the election on her own strength of merit and personality. She did not win as a woman only. She won as a nominee of the UPA-Left alliance in which Sonia Gandhi claimed the sole credit for blasting off her name after the rejection, on one ground or the other, of the political heavyweights with better merit and credential. Some other parties too tried to derive credit for bringing in a woman.

It was not an election; it was a nomination on which the allies just put their thumb of approval on the directive of their party bosses.

The vote by the elected representatives, in no way, reflected the will and the choice of the people. Some may agree or not, a popular vote would certainly have supported only Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and none else, for another term.

Mrs. Patil has to stand the test of time. It looked very odd when immediately after her nomination was announced, she had to clarify that "she will be no rubber-stamp President". By her words, actions and behaviour, in the days to come, she has to prove herself true to her words. And, fortunately or unfortunately, the first test for her terms as President has come too soon. She has to act on the Goa crisis. The way she deals with the situation will prove whether her election will boost women empowerment and whether she stands by her declaration not to be a rubber-stamp President.

Dr Suram Singh Verma: Indian President is an indirectly elected People's President without much say according to the constitution even. Cabinet of ministers controlled by Prime Minister and the President of ruling political party is more powerful than President of India. Though President may be given some extra ordinary powers in the constitution but he/she can not exercise those powers without any political influence of the political parties who have helped him/her to get the office. Though, many presidents in the past might have achieved the office of President through consensus of all political parties but even then the laws of women's empowerment are pending in the parliament for last many decades. While in power, politicians have no time to think about such issues as they have many other more serious issues like building empires, adjusting their near and dears in jobs and politics, taking revenge with others, enjoying every earthly blessings etc. to fulfill with in a stipulated period of time and have no time left to think about the suffering, well being and promises made to common people at the election time. Pratibha Patil being a women her self, will boost women empowerment is a worth while expectation by women of the country but they (women) should not forget that there are many women on the top of country's affairs like Chief Ministers, UPA Chairman, IAS, IPS and many more who are already having a big say in running the country's social and administrative affairs but does it helps the common women of the country in any way? Therefore, neither Pratibha Patil nor any one else will boost women's empowerment, it is only the women who have to come forward to educate themselves, their daughters, daughter-in-laws, mothers, mother-in-laws and any women with in their circle and fight against the odds they are facing in the society. Every women of the society have to support the right cause of other women then only they will be empowered not by the boosting of our political or constitutional system.

Madhu Agrawal: Everyone including new President Pratibha Patil herself has been joyous on having first woman President in the country as symbol of giving Indian women importance. But the move should not remain symbolic in a male-dominated Indian society. It will be interesting to see how President Pratibha Patil fulfils dreams of country's half population (women) by managing with her government to pass Women Reservation Bill in undiluted original form to provide Indian women their legitimate right for one-third (and not less) reservation in legislature!

It is a co-incidence that just on Pratibha Patil taking charge as head of the nation, India's first woman IPS officer and Magsaysay awardee Dr Kiran Bedi has levelled allegations of gender-bias with discrimination of women in selection of high administrative posts of Union Cabinet Secretary, Union Foreign Secretary and then Delhi Police Commissioner with all the three eligible women candidates filing objections against male-domination at various forums.

RJ Khurana: Mrs Pratibha Patil herself is beneficiary of the process of women empowerment that was set in motion by Mahatama Gandhi during the independence movement, got a fillip with India gaining freedom and received a massive push from Shrimati Indira Gandhi (Remember Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee hailing her as "Ma Durga" for her role in Bangladesh liberation). Now, the movement has picked up a powerful pace. Mrs Patil's ascension to the post of President of India in a mere 60 years of independence speaks volumes for the strides that India has taken in the field of women empowerment. It is a feat that even the United States of America cannot boast of, as it has not elected a women President in over 220 years of its independence.

Presently, apart from the traditional fields of medical and teaching, Indian women are the standard bearers in innumerable professions including the traditional men's monopoly like the armed forces, police, engineering, space technology, business, corporate world et al. The empowerment thrust is so powerful that Indian women will soon be occupying their rightful place in all spheres of national activity with or without Shrimati Patil's help. Wait and see! There is no stopping them any more.

Sushmita Shrivastava: No, the overall picture is not going to change much. It's true that women will feel encouraged that a woman is occupying the highest constitutional post and this will act as a tonic for them to achieve in their own fields. Even women living in villages and small cities will be motivated by the fact that the country has the first woman President. But the Indian society is not going to change quickly. Problems like dowry harassment, female foeticide etc will continue. Here I wish to stress that an equal number of men are also dowry victims. Dowry is the most potent weapon in the hands of retributive women these days. The lot of masses will not change on the whole. Large numbers of women in our country are malnourished and uneducated. They will continue to suffer silently because the people believe that the male must dominate over the female and it is the right thing to do. Only a handful of enlightened people think otherwise. Our society is rotten. I feel some individuals will draw encouragement from the fact that we have a lady President. But the society can't change. It will continue to rot and give out fowl stench.

Dr Visal A Khan: Queen Victoria wrote to Sir Theodore Martin complaining about "this mad, wicked folly of 'Women's Rights'.".. Within each community, nationality and class, the burden of hardship often falls disproportionately on women." Gender inequality exists in most parts of the world. The disparities are as follows:

Mortality inequality: High mortality rates of women and a consequent preponderance of men in the total population.

Natality inequality: Parents wanting the newborn to be a boy rather than a girl.

Basic facility inequality: Girls have far less opportunity of schooling than boys and other deficiencies in basic facilities available to women.

Special opportunity inequality: Gender bias in higher education and professional training can be observed even in some of the richest countries in the world.

Professional inequality: Progress to elevated levels of employment and occupation seems to be much more problematic for women than for men. Take the example of Kiran Bedi IPS, being genius and excellent record could not get promotion.

Ownership inequality: Even though traditional property rights have favoured men in the bulk of India.

Household inequality: The family arrangements can be quite unequal in terms of sharing the burden of housework and child care.

India, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has had female heads of governments, which the United States or Japan has not yet had (and does not seem very likely to have in the immediate future). Indeed, in the case of Bangladesh, where both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are women, there is no change in empowerment of women, rather both women are targeted every time. One might begin to wonder whether any man could possibly rise to a leadership position there in the near future. Some economic models have tended to relate the neglect of women to the lack of economic empowerment of women.

These illustrations can be supplemented by considering the functioning of women in other areas, including in economic and political fields. Substantial linkages between women's agency and social achievements have been noted in many different countries.

In my opinion, this is a show and all ultra modern politics to promote a female as head of state in top and gain the vote of women on the other hand of current UPA headed Govt. The same policy was adopted by the previous NDA headed Govt to keep a Muslim head of state in top and opening a bank of vote of Muslim and exploiting them in Gujarat to obtain favour of Hindus. The question, "Will Pratibha Patil's Election boost women's empowerment?" The answer is Kiran Bedi IPS whose record is much more superior than her junior, but could not get promotion and empowerment on the day Pratibha Patil was elected as head of state. Pratibha Patil is also a women and she has the same gender inequality disparities of the above nature and in future she has to interact with the man power of India Service authorities who are the real directors of power and only the time will tell the story of her survival.

RK Kutty: To a great extent it is a boost up towards that goal. At least now when Pratibha Patil is elevated to the highest office, facing many odds in the form of casting aspersions against her credibility, but her victory, with a thumping majority, had proved it all wrong.

But then the larger question is how this elevation alone would help boost women empowerment when in our country there are still several States where not even the minimum 33% reservation to womenfolk is to be followed as a rule. Of course, the present leadership of the State of Madhya Pradesh has thrown up a challenge that it is prepared to give even 50% reservation to women, provided the centre too must come up with such a proposal. What one personally feels is that before the government at the Centre decides to enact 33% reservation for women, each political party in India must take a firm decision to reserve 33% seats first in their party set-up, then every Panchayat, Municipal, State Legislature and Parliament elections. Thereon, every State Government must enact bill/legislation on those lines, so that we can build up a solid foundation at the grass-root level and bring up women folks to shoulder greater responsibilities. The reason as to why Ms Pratibha Patil's candidature was considered acceptable to all political parties within the UPA and even the Leftists too extended support was her long years of political experience, right from organization, legislature, parliamentary and even gubernatorial positions. That is the right way of bringing up women in to the mainstream politics rather than suddenly hoisting someone on the top out of the blue.

There are enough indications that Indian females are marching ahead. The last couple of years 10th Board and HSE Board results showed that girls are outsmarting the boys. Representation of women in almost every field of activity is visible. Good number of women is participating in UPSC competitive examinations. Even in armed forces, Indian Police Service, Para-Military forces, women are excelling. It is another matter that at certain level there are some set-backs as well where the women are not treated at par. There were also unhappy incidences of suicides by women Army Commissioned Officers. That may be exceptional cases, out of frustration, where negligible women representation exist when they hardly get sufficient moral support in a male dominated set-up. There is also legislation to stop harassment of women at their work places. Government is making everything possible to treat women equally at all levels. But in a highly tradition bound Indian society, there are still many pockets, particularly in the rural areas, where women are still not allowed to come out of their set boundaries. That is mainly due to lack of education. Medias, particularly visual medias, can play some lead role in imparting sufficient awareness programmes in the midst of village/rural pockets where even adult women can get minimum knowledge to read, write and understand the reality of life beyond the four walls of their homes. Governments - both at the States as well as at the Central, have enough programmes with sufficient fund allocation. There are also several NGOs who are doing dedicated services for women uplift and empowerment. All things put together would definitely work for women empowerment and surely elevation of Ms. Pratibha Patil is a step in the right direction towards that ultimate goal.

are: First Dr Visal A Khan , Second Dr Suram Singh Verma , Third KC Mouli