The fight for equality among genders, especially in political representation, is an ongoing battle. The underrepresentation of women in politics is a prominent issue that needs prompt attention. Recently, a political party called for the introduction of the long-overdue Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. The bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010, but never made it to a vote in the Lok Sabha, causing it to lapse.
Historical Context: Reservation for Women in Indian Politics
The advocacy for reservation for women in politics can be traced back to the Indian national movement. In 1931, leaders Begum Shah Nawaz and Sarojini Naidu penned a letter to the then British Prime Minister about the status of women in the new constitution. Furthering this cause, the National Perspective Plan for women in 1988 recommended reservation for women from Panchayat to Parliament.
This led to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments, mandating the reservation of one-third seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies. States such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Kerala have legally ensured a 50% reservation for women in local bodies.
Understanding the Women Representation Bill
The Women’s Reservation Bill proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women. The bill seeks to rotate these reserved seats among different constituencies in the state or union territory. According to the bill, the reservations would cease to exist 15 years after the enactment of the Amendment Act.
The need for such a bill is underscored by the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, which places India at 48th out of 146 countries in terms of political empowerment. Notwithstanding the rank, India’s score is low at 0.267, compared to best-ranking countries like Iceland (rank 1, 0.874) and Bangladesh (rank 9, 0.546).
Arguments For and Against the Women Representation Bill
While opponents argue that reserving seats for women infringes upon the Constitution’s guarantee of equality, supporters insist on the necessity of affirmative action to combat political patriarchy. The proponents also believe that more women in decision-making positions can address pressing issues like gender-based crimes, low female workforce participation, poor nutrition levels, and skewed sex ratio.
Status of Women Representation in Indian Politics: A Historical Overview
Despite the constitutional provision for equal treatment of men and women in all spheres, only about 14.4% of members of the Indian Parliament are women. This percentage is lower than neighboring countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Even women’s representation in state assemblies across India is dismal, with a national average of just 9%.
Evaluating Women’s Political Participation in India
Women’s participation in politics can be evaluated by considering their roles as voters and as candidates. In recent years, women have been increasingly active as voters. However, they remain underrepresented as candidates, making up less than 9% of those contesting in elections as per the data from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Improving Women’s Representation in Politics
Several measures can be taken to improve the representation of women in Indian politics. These include implementing more reservation policies, increasing awareness and education, addressing gender-based violence and harassment, and reforming the electoral process. These approaches seek to facilitate the active involvement of women in politics, propelling the nation towards greater gender equality.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
One question from the 2019 exam asked candidates to comment on the impact of reserving seats for women in local self-government institutions on the patriarchal character of the Indian political process. This indicates the relevance and gravity of this issue in contemporary society.