"Examining the Impact, Intentions, and Unanswered Questions Surrounding Gender Representation in Indian Politics"
By: Prapti Dasgupta
In a landmark development, the Women's Reservation Bill 2023 has recently passed both houses of the Indian Parliament. This legislation guarantees that one-third of seats in the lower house of Parliament and State assemblies will be reserved for women over the next 15 years. To put it into perspective, this equates to 181 seats out of a total of 543 in the Lok Sabha. Notably, these reservations will also apply to seats designated for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. However, there's a catch – the reservation of seats for women will expire after 15 years.
India's history of reservations has often been met with various criticisms, whether stemming from concerns about the abolition of caste-based reservations or fears that it provides minorities with the same opportunities as the general public. Proponents argue that the Women's Reservation Bill focuses on women's empowerment and equitable resource distribution, while opponents claim that it may undermine merit-based competition and credibility.
Picture taken by: Levannatsagal
For years, this bill had been in circulation in Parliament under different governments, yet it faced numerous political obstacles until its passage in 2023. The government's support for the bill presented an opportunity to silence its opposition. Rejecting the bill would have painted them as anti-women, potentially harming their prospects in upcoming elections. Opposition parties, in turn, sought to capitalize on the momentum of passing such legislation.
One intriguing aspect of this debate is the government's questioning of why the bill's opponents hadn't championed it when it was first introduced in Parliament in 1996, 1997, 1998, and again in 2008. It underscores the manipulation of public welfare, particularly women's welfare, to serve political ambitions without considering the repercussions of such indecisiveness.
The passage of the Women's Reservation Bill represents a step in the right direction, provided it remains immune to political exploitation by ruling or opposing parties. It addresses concerns of gender bias and policy formation within India's social and political spheres. In a nation where patriarchal practices still dominate many regions, initiating dialogue about the root causes of such practices becomes imperative. This bill has the potential to challenge deeply ingrained norms that dictate women's roles and status in society.
Caste bias often follows patriarchy in India, largely stemming from inadequate education among minority populations. Activism has sparked discussions about gender and caste, successfully combating deeply entrenched stigmas. However, enacting meaningful change remains a challenge without becoming an integral part of the very system that has actively excluded women from national policy formulation.
Consider the historical context: the first Lok Sabha in 1951 had 26 women MPs, and by 2019, this number had risen to 82. It took nearly seven decades to witness a substantial increase in female parliamentary representation. The question that lingers is whether the ruling party intends to work for the welfare of all citizens or continue relying on the appropriation of marginalized sections of society that it outwardly defies and dehumanizes.
Debates abound regarding the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill and the intentions of both ruling and opposing parties. Questions linger about why the bill remains silent on women's participation in the Rajya Sabha. Some critics argue that it shifts the focus away from vital electoral reforms, including the criminalization of politics. Is this bill a genuine effort to address women's needs and broader political change, or is it a strategy to appease voters while delaying action on other critical issues, such as religious bias and gender inequality not only in Parliament but also in other professional spheres where women deserve recognition? These questions remain unanswered, leaving India at a crossroads in its pursuit of gender equality and political reform.
