Women’s reservation in politics refers to the policies or laws implemented to ensure a certain percentage of political positions are reserved for women. The goal is to promote gender equality in political representation and decision-making processes, addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in politics. The overview of the concept include: a. Global Perspective: Many countries have implemented quotas to increase female participation in politics. These quotas can be in the form of reserved seats in parliament, candidate quotas for political parties, or gender quotas in election laws. Countries like Rwanda, Sweden, and Norway have some of the highest levels of female political representation due to such policies. b. India’s Women’s Reservation Bill: The Women’s Reservation Bill (Constitution 108th Amendment) is a notable example. It proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and in all state legislative assemblies for women. The bill was first introduced in 1996 and has seen multiple revisions and discussions over the years. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha (upper house) in 2010 but has yet to be passed by the Lok Sabha and implemented. Many political parties and leaders have supported the bill, arguing that it is essential for empowering women and ensuring their participation in governance. However, there have also been reservations and opposition, particularly regarding the distribution of reserved seats among different communities. c. Challenges and Criticisms: Tokenism: Critics argue that mere reservation does not guarantee meaningful participation. Women elected through reserved quotas may face challenges in asserting their influence in a male-dominated political environment. Representation vs. Merit: Some argue that reservation may undermine the meritocracy principle, where candidates should be chosen based on capability rather than gender. Reservation Within Reservation: There is debate about whether there should be sub-reservations for women from backward and marginalized communities within the overall reservation for women. d. Impact: In regions where women’s reservation has been implemented, there has been a noticeable increase in female representation. This has led to changes in policy focus, often highlighting issues related to education, health, and welfare that affect women and children. Thus, women’s reservation in politics is a significant step toward achieving gender equality in governance.
Concept worldwide
The background and origin of women’s reservation in politics are rooted in the broader struggle for gender equality and women’s rights, which gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement eventually led to the recognition of the need for women’s participation in politics, culminating in various forms of affirmative action, including reservation or quotas for women in political institutions. a. Early Movements: Suffrage Movement: The women’s suffrage movement, which began in the late 19th century, was the first significant step towards securing political rights for women. Women in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand fought for and eventually won the right to vote. New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893. Emergence of Women’s Reservation: Despite the gains made through the suffrage movement, women remained underrepresented in political offices. This led to discussions on the need for more proactive measures, such as reserved seats or quotas for women, to ensure their participation in governance. Scandinavian countries were among the first to adopt such measures in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a significant increase in women’s representation in their parliaments. b. Women’s Reservation in India: Post-Independence Developments: After India gained independence in 1947, the Constitution of India guaranteed equal rights to all citizens, including women. However, women’s representation in legislatures remained low. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992 marked a significant step by reserving one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (rural local bodies) and Municipalities (urban local bodies). This grassroots-level reservation has been successful in increasing women’s participation in politics. The Women’s Reservation Bill: In 1996, the Women’s Reservation Bill (Constitution 81st Amendment) was introduced in the Indian Parliament. It sought to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and state legislative assemblies for women. All these reflect the recognition that mere suffrage is not enough and that proactive measures are necessary to ensure women’s effective participation in political decision-making.
Status in India
The status of women’s reservation in India witnessed a major breakthrough in the year 2023. The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 is a landmark piece of legislation that promises to reshape the political landscape of India by ensuring greater representation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The bill was the first that was considered in the new parliament building on 20 September 2023, and it was passed by the Lok Sabha with 454 votes in favour and two against. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill unanimously with 214 votes in favour and none against, on 21 September 2023. President Droupadi Murmu signed the bill on 28 September 2023, and the gazette notification was also published the same day, which made it clear that the reservation will come into force soon after the first delimitation frozen until 2026. The bill was first introduced in 1996 and has been reintroduced several times since. The bill remained to be a contentious issue, with some political parties and leaders supporting it, while others have raised concerns about the need for sub-quotas for women from backward classes, minorities, and other marginalized communities. The key features of the passed bill include: a. Reservation of Seats: The bill mandates that 33% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies be reserved for women. This reservation also extends to the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) within these legislative bodies. b. Implementation Timeline: The bill will be implemented after the completion of the next delimitation exercise, which is scheduled to be conducted after the first Census following the enactment of the bill. The Census is expected to be conducted after 2026. c. Duration of Reservation: The reservation for women under this bill will be in effect for 15 years from the commencement of the Act, after which it may be reviewed. Rotation of Reserved Seats: The reserved seats for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise, ensuring that different constituencies benefit from the reservation over time. Impacts: The bill is seen as a major step towards achieving gender parity in political representation, addressing the chronic underrepresentation of women in Indian legislatures. It is expected to empower women by providing them with a greater role in decision-making processes at both the state and national levels. It may also encourage more women to participate in politics, breaking down societal and cultural barriers that have traditionally limited their involvement.