Source: The Hindu 

Introduction 

Women's representation in politics has been a long struggle worldwide. While some countries have made progress, others lag. In India, women got the right to vote from the start, but their representation in parliament remained low for decades. Recently, India passed a law to reserve one-third of seats for women in national and state legislatures. This is a big step, but it will not take effect until after the next census. The change aims to bring more women's voices into lawmaking and hopefully lead to more women in government leadership roles. 

What is the Status of Women's Representation in India? 

• Women constitute about 14% of the current (18th) Lok Sabha, a slight improvement from previous years. 
• State Legislative Assemblies fare worse, with an average of only 9% women representatives. 
• Despite universal suffrage since independence, women's political representation remains disproportionately low. 
• Progress has been slow, with representation hovering between 5-10% until 2004, rising marginally to 12% in 2014. 
• The 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) saw the highest number of women MPs ever elected - 78 out of 543 seats. 
• Certain states like Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand have shown better representation than the national average. 
• Women's representation in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) is slightly better at about 13%. 
• The intersectionality of gender with caste, religion, and class further complicates representation issues. 
• The Trinamool Congress has the highest proportion of women MPs in the current Lok Sabha at 38%. 
• The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and principal Opposition Congress party have around 13% each.  
• Naam Tamilar Katchi, a State party in Tamil Nadu, has been following a voluntary quota of 50% for women candidates in the last three general elections. 

What the Constitutional Provisions and Laws in India for Women Representation?  

• The Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to women, including the right to vote and contest elections under Articles 14, 15, and 16. 
• Article 243D and 243T provide for reservation of seats for women in local bodies. 
• 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992/1993) mandated 33% reservation for women in local governing bodies (panchayats and municipalities). 
• Several attempts between 1996 and 2008 to extend similar reservations to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were unsuccessful. 
• Some states have implemented 50% reservation for women in local bodies, going beyond the constitutional mandate. 
• The Representation of People Act, 1951 provides the legal framework for elections, including provisions against gender discrimination. 
• Various government schemes like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' indirectly aim to empower women politically by addressing social barriers. 

What is 106th Constitutional Amendment ? 

• Passed in September 2023, it provides for one-third reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. 
• This landmark bill aims to ensure fair representation of women in legislatures. 
• Expected to increase gender sensitivity in parliamentary processes and legislation. 
• May lead to an increase in the number of women ministers at both central and state levels. 
• The bill includes provisions for rotation of reserved constituencies in each election. 
• It also provides for reservation within the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes women. 
• The amendment is set to last for 15 years after coming into effect, with the possibility of extension. 
• It's seen as a culmination of a long-standing demand, with similar bills having been introduced and lapsed multiple times since 1996. 

What is Women Reservation Bill, 2023? 

• About 
  • The Bill seeks to introduce 33 percent reservation for women in the Lower House of Parliament, the state legislatures, and the Delhi legislative assembly. 
  • The bill is proposed to be enforced only after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken following the first census conducted after its enactment. 
  • This will also apply to the seats reserved for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and states legislatures. 
  • The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years. However, it shall continue till such a date as determined by a law made by Parliament. 
  • Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation, as determined by a law made by Parliament. 
  • This bill will provide for the insertion of three new articles in the Constitution of India, 1950 (COI), namely Articles 330A, 332A, and 334A. 
  • The bill proposes an amendment to Article 239AA of COI. Article 239AA deals with the Special provisions with respect to Delhi. 
• Purpose of the Bill 
  • This bill seeks to serve the following purposes: 
  • Address the issue of underrepresentation of women in the political system. 
  • Promotion of Women Empowerment 
  • Elimination of gender discrimination 
  • Increase the policy making horizons 
  • Promote women’s right to self-representation and self-determination 
• Limitation of the Bill 
  • Lack of merit-based competition 
  • Constituency representation can be affected 
  • Unprivileged and marginalized group of women may be left behind 
  • Educated and Qualified men may lose political opportunities 
  • Elected women can act as a puppet and real power may be enjoyed by the male members. 
  • Lack of reservation for Other Backward Classed (OBC) women. 
  • The delimitation process can cause delay in the enactment of the Bill. 

What is the Global Perspective on Women's Political Representation? 

• New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant universal women's suffrage in 1893. 
• The United Kingdom provided all women the right to vote only in 1928, after a long suffragette movement. 
• The United States granted equal voting rights through the 19th Amendment in 1920, following decades of activism. 
• Currently, the UK House of Commons has 40% women MPs, South Africa's National Assembly has about 45%, and the US House of Representatives has 29%. 
• Rwanda leads globally with over 60% women in its lower house of parliament, followed by Cuba and Nicaragua. 
• Nordic countries like Sweden, Finland, and Norway consistently rank high in women's political representation. 
• The global average for women in national parliaments stands at about 26% as of 2021, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 
• Many countries have adopted quota systems to increase women's representation, including reserved seats, legislative quotas, and voluntary party quotas. 
• Representation of Women in Legislature: The representation of women in different legislative bodies remains low across India. 
  • According to the report of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women, India ranks 143 out of 193 countries in the number of elected female representatives in parliament. 

What are Implementation Challenges and Future Outlook? 

• The reservation will come into effect after the next delimitation exercise following the publication of the first census post the act's commencement. 
• The long-overdue census (since 2021) needs to be conducted promptly to implement this reservation by the 2029 general elections. 
• Potential challenges include resistance from male politicians and the need for capacity building among women candidates. 
• Concerns exist about the 'proxy candidate' phenomenon, where male family members might influence women representatives. 
• The bill's success will depend on effective implementation and societal attitude changes towards women in leadership roles. 
• While a significant step, critics argue for the need for more comprehensive reforms to address deeper issues of gender inequality in politics. 
• The impact on party dynamics and candidate selection processes remains to be seen. 
• There's a need for parallel efforts in education, economic empowerment, and challenging societal norms to fully realize the benefits of this reservation. 
• The role of media and civil society in monitoring and supporting the implementation will be crucial. 
• Long-term success will be measured not just by numbers, but by the substantive participation and influence of women in political decision-making. 

Conclusion  

While India has made a significant step forward with the Women's Reservation Bill, of 2023, the journey toward equitable political representation for women is far from over. The success of this initiative will depend on effective implementation, societal changes, and addressing broader issues of gender inequality. As India moves towards this landmark change, it has the opportunity to set a powerful example for gender equality in politics, potentially transforming the nature of governance and policymaking for the better.