Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Krishna Tirath

Basic Information:

Name: Krishna Tirath

Constituency: Karol Bagh (Delhi)

Party: Indian National Congress

Terms in parliament: 14-15^th parliament

Age: 54

 Contact Information: 9, Harishchandra Mathur Lane New Delhi – 110 001, Tels. (011) 25757878, 25752179, 9868180641 (M)

 Krishna Tirath began her political career as an MLA from Delhi, and was a part of Delhi’s legislative Assembly for four terms. Chairperson of Committee on Empowerment of Women, and a Member of Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, she is also Minister of State ( Independent Charge ) for Women & Child Development. Detailing her approach and priorities, she said that her first initiative would be introduction of a scheme for empowerment of adolescent girls. This will be followed by setting up of National Mission for Empowerment of Women, revising Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. Her top priority will be to evolve National Policy for: i) Women, and ii) Child Development.

 For more details, visit the following links:

• 2005. Detailed profile: Smt. Krishna Tirath. http://india.gov.in. 5/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Agatha Sangma

Basic Information:

Name: Agatha Sangma

Constituency: Tura (Meghalaya)

Party: Nationalist Congress Party

Terms in parliament: First term

Age: 27

Agatha Sangma is the daughter of former Lok Sabha speaker, Nationalist Congress Party leader and heavyweight in Meghalaya politics: PA Sangma. She is a first time MP, and at 27, the youngest one ever. After having completed her masters from Nottingham University in the UK on environmental management, Ms. Sangma joined politics.Ms. Sangma, who is Meghalaya’s first female MP, and Minister of State for Rural Development, says she will work for the empowerment of women and youth and describes her election to the Lok Sabha as a ‘good first step’ to encourage the fairer sex from the hill state to enter active politics.

 For more details, visit the following links:

• 2009. Agatha Sangma seen as beacon of hope. http://expressbuzz.com. 31/5/09. 5/6/09.
• Saidul Khan. 2009. Face of North East:Agatha Sangma. http://www.merinews.com. 22/3/09. 5/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Shrimati Kamla Devi Patle

Basic Information:

Name: Shrimati Kamla Devi Patle

Constituency: Janjgir Champa (Chattisgarh)

Party: Bharatiya Janata Party

Terms in parliament: First term

Age: 43

 Contact Information: Vill-Beltukari, PO – Khisora, Tah Baloda, District Janjgir Champa

Shrimati Kamla Devi Patle is the newly elected MP from Janjgir Champa constituency in Chattisgarh. One of 12 other candidates she beat out Dr.Shivkumar Dahariya of the Indian National Congress to emerge as the clear front runner. A prominent SC member of the Chattisgarh wing, this is her first elections.

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Saroj Pandey

Basic Information:

Name: Saroj Pandey

Constituency: Durg (Chattisgarh)

Party: Bharatiya Janata Party

Terms in parliament: First term

Age: 40

 Contact Information: Jal Parisar, Near Panch Building, Durg, Chhattisgarh. 491001

Saroj Pandey is the National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Hailing from a teacher family in Chattisgarh, she has held various party positions at the state level. She was also twice elected as the mayor of Durg. During her tenure as Mayor, Ms. Pandey ushered in a modern feel to the city of Durg, which resulted in the city being voted as the best municipal corporation in Chattisgarh. A popular leader, she has immense support from the women, as well as full support from the BJP. She is also well known for lending a helping hand to the poor.

For more details, visit the following links:

• 2009. http://www.sarojpandey.org/. 5/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Shruthi Choudhry

Basic Information:

Name: Shruti Choudhry

Constituency: Bhiwani-Mahendragarh (Haryana)

Party: Indian National Congress

Terms in parliament: First Term

Age: 33

Contact Information: Ward No.25, Vijay Nagar, Bhiwani, Haryana-127 021

Daughter of Haryana minister Kiran Choudhry and granddaughter of Bansi Lal, Shruthi Choudhry is a first-timer in the electoral fray and was given the Congress ticket virtually at the eleventh hour.A lawyer by education, this feisty greenhorn was chosen by congress party to contest Lok Sabha election from Bhiwani-Mahendragrh in 2009 and defeated her nearest rival Ajay Singh Chautala of INLD by a margin of 55097. Her primary agenda is to bring basic amenities to villages. She also feels very strongly about the environment, as it is so closely linked with mankind’s existence.

 For more details, visit the following links:

• 2009. Mayank Aggarwal. I will work to empower to women: Shruthi Choudhary. http://www.thaindian.com .31/5/09. 5/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Kumari Selja

Basic Information:

Name: Kumari Selja

Constituency: Ambala (Haryana)

Party: Indian National Congress (INC)

Terms in parliament: 10-11^th, 14-15^th parliament

Age: 48

 Contact Information: 3, Sunheri Bagh Road, New Delhi, Tels. (011) 23018074, 23018269 (R), 23015928, 23061928, 23091242, 23063889 (O)
Fax: (011) 23061780 (O)

 Born to the late Dalit leader Chaudhary Dalbir Singh, Ms. Selja began her political career in the Mahila Congress, eventually becoming its President. Like her father, she is a prominent Dalit leader within the Congress. She has served as a minister of state (independent charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the first UPA government. She was also part of the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government, where she served as the Minister of State for Education and Culture.She has often fought for the rights of the underprivileged, and has called for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes and other disadvantaged groups. In 2005, she championed the cause of the weavers, protesting against the ban of Shahtoosh trade (shawls made from the hair of the Chiru or Tibentan antelope)

 For more details, visit the following links:    

• 2005. Detailed profile: Kumari Selja. http://india.gov.in. 5/6/09.
• 2005. Selja Kumari warms up to Shahtoosh business. http://www.expressindia.com. 20/6/05. 5/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Dr. Ratna De

Basic Information:

Name: Dr. Ratna De

Constituency: Hooghly (West Bengal)

Party: All Indian Trinamool Congress (AITC)

Terms in parliament:

Age: 57

 Contact Information: Maniktala Housing Estate Fl-4, Bl-O Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054. Ph: 033 23550445

 In the recently concluded elections, Hooghly constituency has elected Dr Ratna De (Nag) of the Trinamool Congress, rejecting eight-time MP and CPI (M) candidate Rupchand Pal, and Sajal Adhikari , CPM. Within Hooghly comes the district of Singur, the site that was originally porposed for the Tata Motors Nano plant. The AITC was responsible for the site being abandoned. This show of support for the farmer’s welfare has definitely helped the AITC to increase its support base, and was a major factor in the party success.

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Shatabdi Roy

Basic Information:

Name: Shatabdi Roy

Constituency: Birhaum (West Bengal)

Party: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

Terms in parliament: First term

Age: 40

Popular Bengali actress Shatabdi Roy contested on a Trinamool Congress ticket, from the Birhaum constituency. Closely associated with the Trinamool Congress, this is her first election. Still actively involved in the film industry, Shatabdi teaches acting in her spare time, at the Shatabdi Foundation.Shatabdi clearly has plans for her term as MP. “Roads, electricity, hospitals, schools. We will usher in change.” she said, in a recent interview.

 For more details, visit the following links:

• Chandrima S Bhattacharya. 2009. Shatabdi takes to playing teacher- star looks to women and children for support. http://www.telegraphindia.com. 6/5/09. 6/6/09

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Sushmita Bauri

Basic Information:

Name: Sushmita Bauri

Constituency: Bishnupur (West Bengal)

Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))

Terms in parliament: 14-15^th Parliament

Age: 34

Contact Information: 308, V.P. House, New Delhi – 110 001, Tels. (011) 23358331, 9868180191(M)

 A member of 14^th Lok Sabha in 2004, this Calcutta University graduate is a member of Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment. A lawyer by profession, Ms. Bauri has been campaigning extensively for social justice and fight against communalism and class difference.Daughter of Sandhya Bauri, who’d been elected three times consecutively, Sushmita Bauri is not new to politics. Ms Bauri believes that the villagers ,especially the women living in the remote villages ,are not only being deprived of social justice, they are also falling victims to superstitions and lack of proper education, and she intends to change this.

 For more details, visit the following links:

• 2005. Detailed Profile: Smt. Sushmita Bauri. http://india.gov.in. 7/6/09.

Women MPs in 15th Lok Sabha: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar

Basic Information:

Name: Kakali Ghosh Dastidar

Constituency: Barasat (West Bengal)

Party: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

Terms in parliament: First term

Age: 49

Contact information: Digberia, Uttarpara, Madhyamgram-12, Barasat, Dist-  North 24 Parganas.

A close acolyte of the Trinamool chief, Dr. Ghosh Dastidar is a practising doctor, specializing in the field of ultrasonology. A first time contender, she has clear priorities set for her term as a MP. Having distinguished herself in the field of medicine, she intends to use her expertise to improve the medical facilities. She also intends to devote special attention for the Upliftment of the minority section with respect to their health, employment and education etc.

For more details, visit the following links:

• 2009. Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. http://www.winkakoli.com/election/. 7/6/09.