Is the demand for a National Commission for Men justified, and would you vote for a party that fights for men’s rights, asks TOIThis isn’t the first time that the demand for a national body to safeguard men’s interest has come to the fore (see box), but this is definitely the first time that a group of men from Lucknow have mooted the idea. The National Coalition of Men are not only demanding the formation of a National Commission of Men, on the same line as the one that exists for women, but also plan to form a political party and contest the General Elections this year, if other political parties do not pay heed to their demands.While the group is focussing on domestic violence against men, men’s suicides and family laws that favour women, here’s how Lucknowites reacted to the demands:Many people face harassment, irrespective of gender, and while mostly women are at the receiving end, sometimes men too are harassed. So if you ask me if the problem of harassment of men exists, I would say yes. But is a National Commission for Men required? No. I think we need to be sensitive to these issues, which does not necessarily require a commission. Also, I would never vote for a party with such an agenda.– Lalita Pradeep, bureaucratThere is a danger of going overboard when we talk of women empowerment, and we need to be careful that in our attempt to protect women’s rights, we are not overdoing things. But there is no need for a men’s commission yet. And I wouldn’t support a party based on that agenda.There are more important issues to talk about.– Akshai Abraham, social entrepreneurThere’s no denying the fact that men are harassed, if not physically perhaps psychologically. So the demand for a National Commission for Men isn’t unjustified. But to form a political party on that ideology, that’s plain stupid.-- Kshitij Sheoran, second year Law studentThere isn’t any need for a National Commission for Men. Out of the 10 cases of domestic violence, I think nine would be against women, and only one against a man. Agar ek aadmi ke against domestic violence ho bhi raha hai toh it does not need a National Commission to address the problem. And we definitely do not need another party in the already overcrowded list of political parties in our country.– Ashish Dalwani, singer commission itA National Commission for men is definitely required. If women have a body to fall back on, why not men? However, forming an all-men’s political party doesn’t appear to be a feasible idea. I wouldn’t vote for such a party. Anyway, I think women are better leaders than men.– Anju Narain, designerGoing by the experiences of my married friends, a National Commission for men is definitely the need of the hour. We need a body to counter the misuse of laws favouring women. But there is no one to give men a second hearing. Such a body will surely help them secure an unbiased judgement. But yes, I will not blindly vote for an allmen’s political party. We have better parties in the fray.– Kanav Aroura, entrepreneurI think it’s a good move, both men and women need to be treated equally. There is nothing wrong in the formation of a National Commission for Men if a similar body exists for women. I would support it, and would like to vote for a political party which fights for the rights of men. Women are given so much importance in our society that probably 10-15 years later we will end up dominating the society, which isn’t fair. I strongly feel there should be balance in distribution of power and rights between both the genders.– Priyanka Sarkar, socialiteSeveral times in the past, similar demands have been made by men’s groups all over the country:In January this year, a group of NGOs put forth their demand for a special government body to look into the rights of menIn June 2013, a group of men protesting against the proposed changes in the Hindu Marriage Act, demanded the formation of a Men’s Welfare Ministry. “Even animals have a Ministry, women have National Commission for women and a separate Welfare Ministry, why not for men?” they asked.In November 2012, Organizations fighting for the rights of men celebrating International Mens Day demanded that a National Commission for men should be set-up for the welfare of men.In November 2011, a similar demand was made by a group of social activists in Bengaluru.