Why are there few women in Indian Politics?

Why are there few women in Indian Politics?

KAKALI DAS

On the eve of India’s independence on August 14^th, 1947, a momentous gathering filled the parliament gallery, eagerly awaiting Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic address, his famous Tryst with Destiny Speech.

However, the session commenced with Sucheta Kripalani, a revered freedom fighter and later India’s first woman Chief Minister, singing the patriotic anthem “Vande Mataram” to set the stage for the historic occasion.

Why are we discussing her today? Because since India gained independence, significant progress has been made, including the rise of women leaders, chief ministers, and even a woman Prime Minister.

However, despite these advancements, women’s representation in politics still lags behind. While women dominate local bodies at the grassroots level, the question remains: what about leadership positions at the highest levels?

In the 1960s, Sucheta Kripalani served as India’s sole woman Chief Minister, leading Uttar Pradesh. Fast forward to 2024, and the situation remains unchanged, with Mamata Banerjee as the only woman Chief Minister in a landscape comprising 28 states and 8 union territories. The persisting absence of women in the highest echelons of Indian politics begs the question: why is there such a dearth of female representation at the top tier?

In 1992, the PV Narasimha Rao government enacted a landmark measure by passing the 73^rd and 74^th Constitutional Amendment Act. This legislation mandated the reservation of one-third of all seats for women in local administrative bodies, commonly referred to as Panchayats. Consequently, 33% of the seats are now reserved for and filled by elected women representatives.

When the law was initially introduced, it was often dismissed as a mere token gesture, with critics arguing that it provided women with no real power. Despite facing backlash, the government persisted with its implementation.

Initially, the impact seemed minimal, but over the years, tangible changes became evident. Apart from developmental initiatives, Panchayats started addressing previously overlooked issues such as water, sanitation, cooking fuel, stones, dowry, and the sale of liquor—matters that women were more likely to prioritize and bring into focus compared to men.

Subsequently, states recognized the transformative impact of Panchayats and decided to enhance women’s representation further. While the reservation initially stood at 30%, 20 states elevated it to 50% of the seats for women. In states like Karnataka, the quota was extended even beyond that.

Presently, India boasts 3.2 million local representatives, with 1.4 million being women who hold 86,000 leadership positions. Women occupy 44% of all seats in local bodies across the country. Remarkably, India outperforms nations like France, the UK, and Germany in this aspect, with female representation at 40%, 34%, and 27%, respectively. However, the question remains: what comes next?

While women are adequately represented at the Panchayat level, their presence diminishes significantly as you ascend the political hierarchy. For instance, in the Indian Parliament, comprising 542 members in the Lok Sabha (the lower House), only 78 are women, amounting to less than 15% representation. Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, it hovers around 14%. This stark underrepresentation falls well below the global average.

In 2022, the global average for female representation in national parliaments stood at 26.2%, highlighting India’s significant lag behind this standard. Moreover, this disparity extends to states, where at least 17 have less than 10% women in their legislatures. The pressing question remains: what steps are being taken to address this issue?

In theory, a bottom-up approach suggests that more women should join political parties, parties should actively field more women candidates, and efforts should be made to nurture women leaders.

However, this strategy has proven ineffective as women tend to disappear from politics as they ascend the hierarchy. Consequently, the government is now turning to the tried and tested formula of “reservations.” Just as it proved successful for the Panchayats, the hope is that it will also work for the parliament.

Last year, India enacted the Women’s Reservation Bill, which mandates the reservation of one-third of all electoral seats for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Union Territories. Under this legislation, if a state has 100 seats, approximately 33 seats will be reserved exclusively for women candidates. While women can contest in both reserved and unreserved seats, only female candidates can be elected from these designated seats.

However, there’s a catch: although the bill has been passed, there’s uncertainty surrounding its implementation timeline. The rollout will unfold in three stages, with the first being the Census. India’s last census took place in 2011, and the next one was scheduled for 2021 but got postponed due to the pandemic. Therefore, the initial step involves conducting a census.

The second step entails delimitation, requiring the redrawing of constituencies. Only after this process is completed can the women’s quota be implemented in the third step. However, the government has not provided a definitive timeline for these procedures. According to reports, the implementation may not occur until after 2029, indicating a wait of at least five years.

What are the barriers preventing women from entering politics? How can we address these obstacles and encourage more women to participate in political life?

Since independence, women’s engagement in politics has remained minimal. However, over the decades, as more women have gained education, entered the workforce, become politically aware, and asserted their electoral rights, there has been a gradual shift. In 2019, for instance, nearly as many women exercised their voting rights as men, marking a significant stride towards gender equality.

However, the number of women contesting elections was significantly lower compared to men, attributable to various factors. Running a campaign requires substantial resources, including finances and political influence, which can be daunting for women.

Moreover, the political arena is often marred by violence and mudslinging, dissuading women from entering the fray. Those who do overcome these barriers often encounter threats, abuse, and personal attacks. While men also face such challenges, it’s undeniable that women experience them to a greater extent.

Additionally, there are structural barriers to women’s political participation. Elections demand significant time commitments, often requiring candidates to be away from home for days while campaigning. This can only be feasible with a supportive family system, which many women lack. Furthermore, domestic responsibilities often limit women’s ability to engage fully in political activities, highlighting the inherent inequalities within the system.

Furthermore, political parties often prioritize “winnability” in candidate selection, with the perception that women are less likely to secure victory than men. Consequently, women are granted fewer tickets, and those who do receive them often do so through familial connections.

For instance, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 41% of women candidates were dynasts, and 30% of those elected had ties to a political family. This trend underscores the lack of accessibility for women in politics, despite their proven track record of strong performance.

A report examining women as legislators reveals their superior performance across various metrics. They excel economically, exhibit lower levels of corruption, are less susceptible to political opportunism, and demonstrate effective leadership qualities.

However, despite these merits, persistent societal inequalities hinder their advancement. In an ideal scenario, women would be granted tickets, contest, and emerge victorious. Unfortunately, the reality falls short of this ideal.

With only a limited number of women running for office and even fewer succeeding in elections, the attainment of top leadership positions remains elusive for women. From 1964 to 2024, India has seen minimal progress, with just one woman serving as chief minister. While reservation policies have facilitated women’s advancement at the local level, can similar measures be implemented to catalyse change in parliament as well?

Consider this as you cast your vote this time around!

02-04-2024

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