Context

• Despite achievements in every sector, it is still challenging for women to find space in political landscape.
• 75 years after Independence, Parliament lacks substantial representation from half the population, with women holding just 14% of the seats.
• It is time to acknowledge the systematic exclusion of women from politics and demand action to create a more equitable political landscape.

Background of political reservation for women in India

• Pre-Independence,
  • In 1931, leaders like Begum Shah Nawaz, Sarojini Naidu wrote to the British PM submitting the official memorandum jointly issued by 3 women bodies on the status of women in the new Constitution.
  • The issue of women’s reservation came up in Constituent Assembly debates as well, but it was rejected as being unnecessary.
• Post-Independence,
  • In 1955, a government-appointed committee recommended that 10% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies should be reserved for women.
  • The National Perspective Plan for Women (1988) recommended that 30% of seats in all elected bodies should be reserved for women.
    • These recommendations paved the way for the historic enactment of the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution which mandate all State governments to reserve one-third of the seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
  • Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Kerala have made legal provisions to ensure 50% reservation for women in local bodies.

Representation of women in Politics

• Pre-Independence: Women played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle (Sarojni Naidu, Aruna Asaf Ali, Madam Bhikaji Cama). They were also present in the Constituent Assembly (Durgabai Deshmukh, Hansa Jivraj Mehta, Kamla Chaudhary).
• Modern Era:
  • Just a decade ago, three of India’s largest States, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, were in the spotlight for being led by women CMs.
  • While Sushma Swaraj led the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi served as both President of the Congress Party and Chairperson of the UPA.
  • Also, India had its first woman President, Pratibha Patil around the same time.

What is Women's Reservation Bill?

• The Women’s Reservation Bill proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.
  • Reserved seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the states or union territories.
  • Reservation shall cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of this Amendment Act.
• It was first introduced in the Lok Sabha as the 81st Amendment Bill in September 1996.
  • The Bill failed to get the approval of the House and was referred to a joint parliamentary committee which submitted its report to the Lok Sabha in December 1996.
  • But the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
• In 1998, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government reintroduced the Bill in the 12th Lok Sabha.
  • The Bill failed to get support and lapsed again. The Bill was reintroduced in 1999, 2002 and 2003.
• In 2008, the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government tabled the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and it was passed with 186-1 votes on March 9, 2010.
  • However, the Bill was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.

Arguments in Favour of the Bill

• Despite the hopes of the leaders of the national movement, women are still under-represented in the Parliament.
  • Hence, affirmative action is imperative to improve the condition of women since political parties are inherently patriarchal.
• Reservations will ensure that women form a strong lobby in Parliament to fight for gender-issues that are often ignored.
• With more women in politics, gender-sensitive policies such as violence against women, gender-based discrimination, and women’s health can be addressed in a more sensitive and urgent manner.
• Evidence from women as panchayat leaders –
  • Shattered social myths,
  • Been more accessible than men,
  • Controlled the stranglehold of liquor,
  • Invested substantially in public goods such as drinking water,
  • Helped other women express themselves better,
  • Reduced corruption,
  • Prioritized nutrition outcomes, and
  • Changed the development agenda at the grassroots level.

 Arguments Against the Bill

• The idea runs counter to the principle of equality enshrined in the Constitution, as women will not be competing on merit if there is reservation, which could lower their status in society.
• Women are not a homogenous community like a caste group. Therefore, the same arguments made for caste-based reservation cannot be made for women.
• Women’s interests cannot be isolated from other social, economic and political strata.
• Reservation of seats in Parliament would restrict the choice of voters to women candidates.

How reservation for women in India can help increase political participation?

• Reservation of seats for women in politics can help address the issue of underrepresentation of women in politics.
• Reservation can provide women with political opportunities.

Global examples

• The Scandinavian countries have implemented policies and governance structures that support gender equality and women’s empowerment, which includes women’s representation in political and leadership positions.
• Norway implemented a quota system in 2003 that required 40% of seats on corporate boards to be occupied by women.

 Conclusion

• Babasaheb Ambedkar was of the opinion that the progress of a community can be measured by the degree of progress which women have achieved, but we are still far away from that benchmark.
• As India strives to become a Vishwa Guru, we must not overlook the pivotal role women can play in nation building and development. The women’s reservation Bill cannot wait any longer and must be passed.