Taking India back to the drawing board

Context:

We must discuss ‘delimitation’ soon to avoid delaying seat allocation due to the freeze for a longer time.

Need for Delimitation

• The Women’s Reservation Bill: Constitution Amendment Bill promises 33% women's reservation in Indian Parliament.
• Fair seat allocation for Women: Delimitation of electoral constituencies is crucial for fair representation.
• Removing old traces: Freeze on constituency delimitation since 1970s needs addressing.

Current Delimitation Challenges

• The 1971 Census must be changed: Freeze based on 1971 Census data distorts current population representation.
• North-south imbalance: Imbalances in population growth between north and south India pose concerns.
• Representation and Misogyny: Delimitation impacts representation and raises distrust among states.

Urgency of Delimitation Discussion

• Addressing gaps: Upcoming delimitation requires addressing logistical and qualitative concerns.
• Impact and after-effects: Delayed Census and its potential impact on representation need attention.
• Assam’s Picture: Recent delimitation in Assam highlights community representation concerns.