Representation of women in parliament

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Context

• India has elected 74 women MPs to Lok Sabha this year, four fewer than in 2019 and 52 more than in India’s first elections in 1952.
• These 74 women make just 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House, much less than the 33% that will be reserved for women after the next delimitation exercise.

Slow change

• Over the years, Lok Sabha’s gender composition has shown a general trend towards increasing women’s representation. But progress has been slow and not linear.

• In 1952, women made up just 4.41% of the strength of the Lower House. This number increased to more than 6% in the election held a decade later, but again dipped to below 4% in 1971 (with Indira Gandhi, India’s first and only woman Prime Minister, at the helm).
• Since then, there has been a slow, but steady rise in women’s representation (with a few exceptions), which crossed the 10% mark in 2009, and peaked in 2019 at 14.36%.
• India still lags behind several countries — 46% of MPs in South Africa, 35% in the UK, and 29% in the US, are women.

2024 Elections: Candidates’ composition

• Out of the total 8,360 candidates, who stood in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, just around 10% were women.
• This number too has increased over time — it stood at 3% in 1957.
• This is the first time that women candidates’ proportion touched 10%.
• Roughly 16% of BJP’s candidates were women, as opposed to 13% of Congress candidates — both higher than the overall average.

Successes in Women’s Participation in Local Politics

Background and Constitutional Amendments

• Third Tier of Government: India has a third tier of government at the local level comprising municipalities or municipal corporations in cities and towns, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in rural areas.
• 73rd and 74th Amendments: Introduced in 1992 to enhance local level planning, implementation, and monitoring of various social and economic development programs.
• Reservation for Women: These amendments reserved one-third of the total seats in local body elections for women.

Impact of Reservations

• Increased Participation: The reservation policy led to a significant rise in the political participation of women at the local level.
• Enhanced Representation: 20 of India’s 28 states have increased the reservation to 50 percent.

Reduction in Proxy Representation

• Decline in Proxy Control: There has been a decrease in 'proxy representation' where elected women were controlled by male family members.
• Skill Development Programs: Various government and NGO-led skills development and leadership training programs have improved the performance of elected women leaders.

Challenges in Women’s Representation in National and State Legislatures

Societal and Structural Barriers

• Low Representation: Despite increased participation at the local level, female representation in Parliament and state legislatures remains low.
• Societal Prejudices: Prejudices, male-dominated party structures, family obligations, and resource scarcity hinder greater participation.
• Structural Hindrances: Structural barriers impede women’s ability to contest and win in parliamentary or state assembly elections.

Inaccessibility of Institutions

• Party Ticket Distribution: Getting a party ticket is essential, but the process is centralized and often excludes women.
• Dynastic Politics: Many women who receive party tickets have family political connections, with 41% of women candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections being 'dynasts'.

Performance and Perception

• Perceived Electability: There is a belief that women are less likely to win elections, leading to fewer party tickets for women.
• Actual Performance: Data shows women candidates have equal or higher chances of winning compared to men.
• Legislative Performance: Studies indicate women legislators perform better on economic indicators and are less likely to be criminal or corrupt.

Non-congenial Structural Conditions

• Campaign Demands: Election campaigns are demanding, and family commitments often limit women’s full participation.
• Hostile Environment: Women face humiliation, abuse, and threats, making it challenging to participate.
• Financial Barriers: Campaign financing is a significant obstacle as many women lack financial independence.

The Case for Institutional Reforms

Legislative Reforms

• Party Ticket Mandate: Amend the Representation of People Act, 1950, to require political parties to allocate one-third of tickets to women.
• Women's Reservation Bill: Revive the Women’s Reservation Bill 2008 to mandate one-third of parliamentary and state assembly seats for women.

Challenges to Reforms

• Political Consensus: Achieving consensus on these reforms is challenging due to structural issues and opposition within political parties.
• Inclusive Representation: Ensure reserved tickets are not disproportionately allocated to women from affluent or politically connected backgrounds.

Conclusion

Progress and Future Directions

• Increasing Participation: Despite challenges, women’s political participation is increasing alongside higher education levels and financial independence.
• Institutional and Social Transformation: Institutional reforms and social transformation are necessary to enhance women’s political representation.
• Role of Women’s Organizations: Continued efforts from women’s organizations and networks within political parties and civil society are essential to assert women’s presence in politics.
• Inclusive Democracy: Greater representation of women in Parliament and state assemblies is crucial for an inclusive and representative democracy in India.

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GENDER AND POLITICAL INCLUSION: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/gender-and-political-inclusion

WOMEN’S RESERVATION: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/womens-reservation#:~:text=Present%20status%20of%20Women%20in%20Parliament&text=In%20the%20Rajya%20Sabha%2C%20women,than%20in%20many%20other%20nations.

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS