1. What prompted you to get into politics?
I was always politically active but I wasnât involved in party politics. I was part of a trade union and I was a social activist. I gradually got involved in policy making relating to the JVP and some organizations linked to the JVP. We discussed the forming of a common platform for people who shared the political ideology and vision to engage more actively in politics and that was how the National Peopleâs Power (NPP) was formed. I was part of that initiative too. I didnât expect to enter Parliament or be in active politics like this. But when the NPP wanted to nominate me to the national list, I agreed to that. After the election I was offered this position and I felt that I couldnât refuse at all. It was not a planned journey at all.
2. How has your experience been getting into politics? As a female Parliamentarian, how has your journey been so far?
I was fortunate in that the political circles Iâve worked with are fairly progressive spaces where equality is a value. In many ways, Iâve not felt discriminated or treated differently because I am a woman. I fully recognize that it is not the common experience for many, I just have been fortunate. However, even in those fairly progressive spaces, it has always been a challenge to focus on gender issues or to bring in a feminist perspective to the mainstream policy. That requires advocacy, discussion and negotiation. Even in those progressive spaces, that is not automatic. I personally have never experienced discrimination in those spaces but I have always had to negotiate, advocate or work hard to bring in a feminist perspective in to those spaces when it comes to policy-making or any other issues we are discussing.
3. Why do you think it is a challenge to bring in a feminist perspective even in those progressive circles?
In my opinion, it is because a feminist perspective challenges the status quo, and the status quo privileges men. Even liberal/progressive men resist, intentionally or unintentionally, that challenge to the status quo, especially when it comes to systemic issues. So, bringing in a feminist perspective is crucial as it highlights issues that are otherwise hidden. Although a feminist perspective is not the sole solution, it definitely plays a role in changing the status quo and in looking at issues in a more wholistic, inclusive manner.
4. Could you tell me a bit about your career as a Parliamentarian?
The areas that I have been focusing on are education related issues and also to bring in a feminist perspective into any issue that we are talking about. I would not call them womenâs issues, necessarily. Iâm really happy about a couple of issues that I have been able to raise in Parliament that have developed into conversations externally, in the outside world. One is recognizing the importance and valuing care work and the other is on sanitation and reproductive health needs, especially in schools. This might be a small victory but after I spoke about it in Parliament, at least in the Parliamentary washrooms, sanitary napkin disposal bins are now placed and made available to be used. It was not the case before.
The other issue that Iâm focusing on and have raised in Parliament is the impact of predatory micro finance credit schemes, especially on rural women. I will continue to work on that issue.
5. Is there anything in the pipeline to that effect?
As a member of the opposition, I can only raise these issues and make propositions. The Government has to implement them. Unfortunately, I cannot say that the issues that I have raised have been addressed by the Government. But I will continue to raise them and bring awareness on these matters.
6. In your opinion what further measures should be taken regarding the micro finance credit scheme issue?
Firstly, the issue is created by the promise made by the Government during elections to the effect that they would abolish the debt in its entirety. Women had a lot of expectations around that promise. So now, the time has come for the Government to fulfill that election promise. The women have planned their life around this promise and they extended support to the Government believing in this promise. So, the Government will have to honour the election promise they made.
Secondly, the Government has to make sure that this particular sector is regulated and that it is not run as a private business for a handful of corporations to make profits.
7. Do you think that law reforms are needed in the micro finance credit sector?
Yes, definitely. An effective regulatory framework is necessary. However, the present crisis has been created by the present Governmentâs election promise. So, something has to be done about that. That does not need legal reforms. A decision has to be taken.
8. What are some of the issues that women are facing due to the prevailing situation in the country due to the global pandemic? What in your opinion should we do to help such women?
One of the reasons for that is the fact that the majority of women are working in the informal sector: whether it is employment, daily wage, working in free trade zones, or in the tea industry. In a range of fields, the livelihood of women has been adversely affected.
On top of that, women are having to face the increased burden of care work. As everybody is at home now, more meals have to be cooked, children have to be taken care of all day long and school work have to be organized. The rising cost of living is also making an impact on single woman households. It is alarming to see that there is a reported increase of domestic violence issues as well. All of these factors have a massive impact on women, directly.
So, in a time like this, there needs to be systems to support people who are affected by the measures undertaken to control the pandemic situation. Those support systems could be in the form of social security schemes or helplines etc. When a woman goes to the police to make a complaint about domestic violence, they are not taken seriously. These things have to be changed. Support systems have to be put in place and made available.
These are not problems that have come about because of COVID. These problems have always existed. COVID has made them much worse and we are all becoming more aware of these problems now. But these are systemic issues that have existed for a long time. So, those have to be addressed.
9. Any other comments? Should there be more resources made available?
Not traditional economic resources. We just need more women in Parliament so that there is a stronger voice. There is only 12 of us and it is not always easy to bring these issues to the spotlight on our own. The more women in Parliament, the more impact we can have on policymaking.
