Women MPs in Lok Sabha
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Indian Parliament
- •Source: HT*
Context: The 18th Lok Sabha will have 74 women Members of Parliament (MP), a slight decrease from 2019 when 78 women were elected.
Status of women in legislatures:
• Women will now constitute 13.6% of the new Lok Sabha, down from 14.3% in the previous term. (although increasing from 5% in the first Lok Sabha)
• India’s representation of women in the Lok Sabha, at 13.63%, falls behind several other countries, with South Africa, the UK, and the US boasting higher percentages.
• In the 2024 elections, women MPs were elected from 14 parties, with the BJP leading with 31 MPs, followed by Congress with 13, and TMC with 11.
• Of the 74 women MPs elected, 43 are first-time MPs, and the average age is 50 years. Around 10% of candidates in the 2024 elections were women, marking an increase from previous years.
• Compared to other countries like Rwanda and Cuba, India’s representation of women in legislatures remains relatively low.
Reasons for low women representations:
• Gender conditioning: Women may lack political ambition due to factors like less encouragement to run for office, self-doubt about qualifications, reluctance towards competition, fear of ‘big politics’, and family considerations.
• Patriarchal society: Gender disparities, sexual division of labour, cultural and social expectations, and illiteracy hinder women’s participation in politics.
• Gatekeepers: Party leaders may show bias in promoting male candidates over female candidates, affecting the selection process and hindering women’s chances of election.
• Lack of political education, growth in criminalization, and corruption further contribute to the underrepresentation of women in politics.
• Structural Disadvantages: Election campaigns are expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with issues like inappropriate commenting, hate speeches, abusive threats, and use of muscle power, which disproportionately affect women candidates.
Benefits of High Representation of Women in Legislature:
• Focus on gender issues: Stronger attention to women’s concerns and implementation of women-sensitive policies.
• Gender equality: Essential for genuine democracy and ensuring women’s interests are on government agendas.
• Accountability: Direct engagement leads to better representation and accountability for women.
• Gender-sensitive governance: Promotes reforms for gender equality in public policy.
• Encourage inclusive initiatives: Supports programs and subsidies to enhance women’s decision-making.
• Change stereotypes: Collaboration with media to portray women as effective politicians, challenging stereotypes.
Steps Taken for Increasing Women’s Political Representation:
• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023: Amends the Constitution to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.
• Constitutional Amendments: The 73rd and 74th Amendments reserve one-third of seats in Panchayats and Municipalities for women.
• SDG Target 5.5: India pledged to achieve women’s full and effective participation at all levels of decision-making in politics and public life.
• Constitutional Measures: Articles 14, 15, 46, and 243D ensure equality, protection against social injustice, and reservation of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Legislative Initiatives: Establishment of the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women and gender-neutral rules in the Lok Sabha.
• International Commitments: Agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Beijing Platform for Action emphasize enhancing women’s political representation globally.
Suggestions for Enhancing Women’s Representation in Legislatures:
• Implement Quotas: Establish clear, well-structured regulations with effective enforcement mechanisms to increase female representation. Quotas can significantly boost women’s presence in parliament.
• Combat Violence: Address psychological and physical violence against women in politics by establishing cross-party working groups, developing policies to combat sexism and harassment, and creating a fair complaints system.
• Mentorship Programs: Provide mentorship opportunities for women politicians to connect with experienced counterparts, enabling them to gain valuable insights and leadership skills.
• Media Participation: Increase women’s participation in media by educating journalists, addressing bias, and monitoring press coverage to promote fair representation of women in politics.
• Women’s Caucuses: Support women’s parliamentary caucuses to foster gender equality legislation and policy agendas, amplifying women’s voices and influence in parliament.
Insta Links:
• Women in the Indian political system