India, the world’s largest democracy, has made considerable progress in many areas, but gender equality in politics has remained elusive. The Women’s Reservation Act, also known as the Constitution (108th Amendment) Act of 2008, finally received approval from the Cabinet during the current Special Session of Parliament and was subsequently passed by the Lok Sabha, making September 20, 2023, a historic day in Indian parliamentary history. The Women Reservation Act, initially proposed as the 81st Constitutional Amendment Act by the Deve Gowda Government in 1996, was referred to the parliament’s select committee led by Geeta Mukherjee but failed to gain consensus on the reservation for OBC women.
The effort to pass the Women’s Reservation Act was unsuccessful in 1999, 2002, and 2003 when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) failed to make it pass in the Lok Sabha.
Later, after finding a spot in the United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) Common Minimum Programme in 2004, the Manmohan Singh Government tabled it again in the Rajya Sabha in 2008. Though it included five out of the seven suggestions made by Geeta Mukherjee’s Committee in 1996, it was again sent to a parliamentary committee.
The bill was later passed with an overwhelming majority of 186-1 votes on March 9, 2010, after acceptance of the committee report by the Cabinet. However, it was never considered in the Lok Sabha and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
Finally, after twenty-seven years since its introduction, the Lok Sabha passed the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023” (128th Amendment) Act on September 20, 2023, under PM Modi’s Government. While 454 members voted in favor of the Act, only 2 members from AIMIM opposed it. Further, on September 21, 2023, the Act was unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha, making a way for ’empowering women in governance.Â
Discrimination based on gender has restricted women’s political engagement in India, restricting the impact of laws and policies affecting their daily lives. With a score of 0.267, India ranks 48th out of 146 nations in the Political Empowerment category. Due to patriarchal biases and norms in Indian society, concerns have also been raised about the potential exclusion of rural and disadvantaged women. Furthermore, a 33 percent quota for women may not be implemented until 2029 due to the condition of delimitation – a constitutional exercise of redrawing constituency borders preceded by the census, which will take place until 2024. The Act adds that the reservation will continue for 15 years with the seats reserved for women being rotated after each delimitation exercise. Further, one-third of the total reserved seats for women are reserved for only the SC/ST category, which led to the opposition creating a fuss about the exclusion of the OBCs.
The G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration, which was introduced approximately one week before the Women’s Reservation Act was passed, emphasizes the G20’s dedication to gender equality as a fundamental principle. This statement highlights the importance of investing in empowering women and girls, as it has a significant impact on achieving the goals laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically about Gender Equality (SDG 5).Â
Women have had a low representation in Indian politics for many years. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement to promote gender equality and increase the participation of women in politics in India. The strongly embedded patriarchal cultural structure is one of the key causes of women’s lack of representation in Indian politics. As a result, there is a widespread belief that politics is a “man’s job” and that women are unsuitable for positions of leadership. Women hold only 14% of the seats in the lower house of the Indian parliament and 12% in the upper house, significantly lower than in many other countries around the world.
Despite these challenges, there have been some encouraging recent developments. The Indian government has implemented several initiatives aimed at expanding women’s political involvement. The measures include reserving 33% of local government seats for women and offering financial support to female candidates. Additionally, a growing number of grassroots organizations are working to support women’s political aspirations and raise awareness of the challenges they face. In recent years, there have been several women leaders who have made significant contributions to Indian politics, like Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, and others, rising to key leadership positions, heads of state and chief ministers of Indian states. The potential benefits of the Women’s Reservation Act would improve women’s representation in governance. It would empower women with a voice in the decision-making process. It would result in more gender-responsive policies and programs. It would empower women and girls.
Key issues around the bill
The Women’s Reservation Act has aroused heated debate, garnering both support and criticism. While its major goal is to address the significant gender disparities in politics, it is not without shortcomings.Â
- Potential for Tokenism: The potential for tokenism is a significant concern associated with the introduction of a women’s reservation bill in the Indian Parliament. Tokenism refers to the practice of including a small number of individuals from an underrepresented group in a role or organization primarily to create the appearance of diversity or fulfill a quota, without genuinely addressing the underlying issues of inequality or discrimination. One of the central concerns is that if a women’s reservation bill is implemented, there may be a perception that women politicians are primarily there to meet a quota, rather than being elected based on their qualifications, experience, or merits. This can undermine the credibility of women in politics. Tokenism can lead to the reinforcement of stereotypes and prejudices, diminishing the achievements of women politicians and subjecting them to unfair scrutiny. Moreover, it might create a perception that women are not truly equal in the political arena and need special measures to gain representation, further entrenching gender stereotypes. To mitigate the potential for tokenism, proponents of women’s reservation bills often emphasize the importance of simultaneously promoting women’s political participation through education, training, and support systems, ensuring that women elected to reserved seats are well-qualified, capable, and genuinely committed to addressing women’s concerns and representing their constituents effectively.
- Encouraging Nepotism– The introduction of a women’s reservation bill in the Indian Parliament has raised concerns about the potential encouragement of nepotism within the political landscape. Critics argue that some women from established political dynasties might exploit the reservation system. This could undermine the principles of meritocracy and genuine representation, as candidates with familial connections might be prioritized over others, leading to a concentration of power and influence within a select group of political families.Â
- Difficulty in Implementation- The difficulty in implementing a women’s reservation bill in the Indian Parliament is a multifaceted challenge that encompasses several intricate aspects. At its core, this challenge revolves around the need to reconfigure electoral constituencies to accommodate reserved seats, a process that can be met with resistance and political contention. Constituency redrawing requires a delicate balancing act to ensure fairness without unduly disrupting the existing political landscape. Furthermore, the administrative changes necessary for the bill’s implementation, such as updating electoral rolls and ensuring proper representation, are resource-intensive and intricate. The political opposition that often arises in response to such a bill, especially from parties that stand to lose influence in reserved constituencies, can lead to deadlock and polarization. Addressing these issues effectively necessitates careful consideration of constitutional and legal aspects, ensuring compliance while safeguarding principles of equality. Moreover, the socio-political diversity of India calls for customization of the reservation system to suit the unique challenges faced by women in various regions and communities. To complement this, efforts to build the capacity of potential women politicians through education and training programs must run parallel to the bill’s implementation.Â
Finally, achieving public awareness and acceptance of the importance of gender equality in politics is an ongoing endeavor, as changing societal attitudes and perceptions may require significant time and effort. In sum, the challenges involved in implementing a women’s reservation bill go beyond administrative logistics, requiring a comprehensive approach that considers the intricacies of Indian society, politics, and governance, while upholding democratic principles.
In conclusion, while the path to women’s political empowerment in India is filled with difficulties, it is worthwhile to pursue. The recent success of the Women’s Reservation Act and the ongoing commitment to gender equality underline the necessity of continuing efforts to promote women’s full and effective involvement in politics and public life at all levels of decision-making. Finally, these initiatives will have a long-term impact on society, particularly at the grassroots level, where change is most significant. It is essential to remember that achieving gender equality in Indian politics will require a comprehensive strategy that includes changes to the electoral system, increased financial support for female candidates, and a shift in societal attitudes toward women in politics. The objective should be to enable women to engage completely and equally in the political process and to establish an inclusive political environment that is representative of the society it serves.
Overall, the new Act seeks to advance gender equality in politics by eradicating cultural prejudices and elevating female leadership while the Women’s Reservation Act in India has noble intentions and aims to rectify the gender imbalance in politics, it faces significant hurdles. While the Women’s Reservation Act in India aims to address gender disparities in politics, it faces potential issues like tokenism, nepotism, and logistical challenges in implementation. To be successful, it requires careful consideration of regional and community-specific challenges, capacity building for potential women politicians, and continuous efforts to change societal perceptions regarding gender equality in politics.
