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Representation of women in Indian legislative bodies
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Context
Lok Sabha 2024 has shown underrepresentation of women in India's Parliament despite marginal gains over the years, highlighting the disparity between women voters and women lawmakers. It critiques the limited impact of legislative quotas and explores the broader societal and political factors influencing women's political participation in India.
Challenges of Representation:
- Incremental Gains: Women constitute only 13% of the current Parliament, a modest increase from 4.4% in 1952, reflecting slow progress in women's representation despite significant electoral reforms.
- Political Party Dynamics: Political parties nominate few women candidates, with only 10% of contestants being women in the recent elections, showcasing systemic biases and limited opportunities for women in political candidacy.
- Party-wise Disparities: Variability exists among political parties in nominating women candidates, with the Trinamool Congress leading with 38% women MPs among its winners, underscoring disparities in commitment to gender parity.
Barriers to Women's Participation:
- Cultural and Social Factors: Traditional family structures and societal norms discourage women's active political involvement beyond token representation, limiting their aspirations and opportunities.
- Candidate Profiles: Women MPs often come from privileged backgrounds or are connected to established male politicians, contributing to a perception of tokenism rather than substantive inclusion.
- Impact of Reservations: Despite the 33% reservation law for women in legislative bodies pending implementation, its efficacy remains questionable in fostering genuine political empowerment beyond token gestures.
Way Forward:
- Enhancing Women's Participation: Effective implementation of reservation policies coupled with efforts to encourage grassroots political engagement among women can bridge the representation gap.
- Role of Political Parties: Political parties need to adopt proactive measures to nominate and support women candidates, reflecting broader societal shifts towards gender equality.
- International Comparisons: India lags behind several countries in women's parliamentary representation, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive reforms and inclusive political practices.
Mains Question:
Q. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of legislative quotas in enhancing women's representation in Indian Parliament. What are the systemic challenges and socio-cultural factors hindering the meaningful participation of women in politics? Discuss with reference to recent electoral trends and international benchmarks.
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