In the wake of recent state assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, data reflects a dearth of women and youth representation as Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). This pattern is not new, as evidenced by the low participation of women during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In fact, according to a 2019 list compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, India ranks 153 out of 190 nations when it comes to the percentage of women in the lower house of world parliaments. Moreover, despite boasting a young demographic—with a median age of 29—the average Indian parliamentarian skews older at 55 years.
Obstacles Faced by Women in Politics
Women’s political advancement faces several hurdles, starting with illiteracy and extending to traditional family roles, lack of political networks and resources, insufficient financial backing from parties, societal and cultural norms, and an unfriendly political environment. These factors combine to keep women’s representation minimal in the political arena.
Barriers for Youth in Politics
Like their female counterparts, young aspirants struggle with false perceptions that they are unprepared for top-flight politics or won’t be taken seriously by electors who respect older politicians. Veteran party decision-makers hesitate to yield space, and muscle power politics prevent entry of good people. Furthermore, the risk of failure, perception of politics as a deceptive and corrupt field and unethical practices deter many prospective candidates. Nepotism also plays a role, with many successful politicians hailing from influential political families. Other obstacles include rising campaign spending and rotational reservations in municipal, panchayat, and mayoral elections.
Initiatives to Encourage Women and Youth Participation
To address these issues, initiatives like The Women’s Reservation Bill 2008 and Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions have been introduced. These provide constitutional amendments to reserve seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, and in Panchayati Raj Institutions, respectively.
For youth representation, National Youth Parliament Festival and National Youth Parliament Scheme are platforms that allow young voices to be heard, understand public issues, express opinions articulately and learn about parliamentary practices and procedures. These initiatives are organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Way Forward For Equal Representation
As a diverse democracy, India should ensure equal political participation from all social groups. One way to boost representation is through legally-backed quotas for youth and women. These could be exclusive and rotational seats or a specified proportion of young candidates that parties must field in an election. Promoting grassroots leadership through municipal and panchayat polls can give rise to leaders with ground-level experience who can eventually run for state and central legislative seats. Additionally, promoting inner party democracy where party positions are filled through elections can also foster more diverse representation.
