The Chipko movement of the 1970s, spearheaded by the women of Uttarakhand, made national and global headlines. However, the political process in the State has not hugged them back and they are still awaiting robust representation in the Assembly.
The Congress, which in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, has made women the main pivot of its general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra-led campaign, has just given five tickets to women in Uttarakhand while the Aam Aadmi Party, a new entrant in the State, has fielded seven.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has not done any better by fielding eight women candidates, a bit more than 10% of the total 70 seats.
