Women’s Reservation Bill, India

It is time for women to rise and shine in political circles of India.

Women’s Reservation Bill, India

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• The story: In 2021, a political party raised the demand of bringing the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill to Parliament, ahead of the monsoon session. It was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in May 2008 and referred to a standing committee. In 2010, it was passed in the House and moved to the Lok Sabha. It lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha.
• Points to note: The idea originated from a constitutional amendment which was passed back in 1993, which stated that a random one third of village council leader, or Sarpanch, positions in the gram panchayat should be reserved for women. The Women's Reservation Bill was launched as a long term plan to extend this reservation to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
• About: The bill sought to reserve 33% seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women. Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the state or union territory. Reservation of seats for women shall cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of this Amendment Act.
• Need: According to Global Gender Gap Report 2021, India has declined on the political empowerment index by 13.5 percentage points, and a decline in the number of women ministers, from 23.1% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2021. Women's representatives in Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies are abysmally low.

1. Surveys indicate that women representatives from Panchayati Raj have worked commendably in the development and overall well-being of society in villages and many of them would definitely want to work on the larger scale.
2. Challenges include lack of proper political education, low financial power of women in society, sexual violence, manifestations of insecure patriarchy, uneven distribution of household work between men and women, etc.
3. The phenomenon of Panchayat Patis – husbands (or other male relatives) using women as proxies in PRIs and wielding the real power – is prevalent.

• Women = Men: Women’s political empowerment is premised on three fundamental and non-negotiable principles: (i) The equality between women and men, (ii) Women’s right to a full development of their potential, (iii) Women’s right to self representation and self-determination. There is a gender gap in political decision-making, and women leaders need to come out more in numbers to impact position decisions and inspire teenage girls to contribute to nation-building.
• Summary: Fundamental reforms at the party level will serve as a necessary and strategic compliment to the Women’s Reservation Bill. Even if the bill is derailed further, it should not stop political parties from making internal structures more conducive to women entering politics. There is a need to bring about institutional, social and behavioral change among India’s populace. Gender equality is a part of Sustainable Development Goals as well.

 

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