Source: Women’s political empowerment — more talk, less action; The Hindu Editorial 30-11-2023
Syllabus: Women’s Issues, Indian Polity and Constitution, Women’s Reservation Bill
- There are two main routes for political empowerment: legislative reservation and party-based quotas.
- Examples from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan show success with legislative reservations.
Global and Indian Perspectives
- Countries like Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Sweden achieve over 30% women representation without legislative quotas.
- In India, the long-debated 33% reservation bill was finally passed in 2023 under the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act.
Assembly Elections 2023: Commitment vs. Reality
- Despite the reservation bill, the analysis of ticket distribution in recent Assembly elections raises concerns.
- Madhya Pradesh: BJP and Congress, despite the bill, fielded fewer women candidates than the 33% mandate.
- Telangana: Political parties fell short of the 15% mark for women candidates, signalling a lack of commitment.
Missed Opportunities in 2022 UP Elections
- Congress reserved 40% of seats for women in the 2022 UP Assembly elections.
- Other parties’ failure to follow suit missed an opportunity to set an example for the most populous state in India.
Success Stories: Odisha and West Bengal
- In Odisha (2019) and West Bengal (2021), BJD and TMC fielded more female candidates and won elections.
- TMC’s 46 women candidates resulted in 32 victories, showcasing the impact of prioritizing women candidates.
The 2023 Women Reservation Act: A Commendable Move
- Commendation for enacting the Women Reservation Act in 2023.
- Linkage with new delimitation post-2026 raises concerns about practical implementation.
- Despite the law, parties’ reluctance to field more women candidates questions their commitment to women’s political empowerment.