Question

Suggest measures to increase the political representation of women in India.

Hint:

Build the answer around reservation of seats in local bodies, the proposed reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, more tickets for women from political parties, and education and awareness.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Women form about half the population, yet their share in the Lok Sabha and in the state assemblies has remained small.
• Experience shows that representation rises fastest where seats are reserved by law, so most measures build on that idea.

Step 1: Continue and extend reservation in local bodies.
One-third of the seats in local government bodies, that is in panchayats and municipalities, are reserved for women. As a result there are more than ten lakh elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies.
This proves that a legal quota works and can be extended further.

Step 2: Reserve seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
A bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies for women has been proposed for this purpose. Passing and implementing it would raise representation at the higher levels as well.

Step 3: Make parties give more tickets to women.
Political parties should put up a larger number of women candidates in winnable seats, instead of confining them to a small number of constituencies. Fair representation inside party organisations is equally necessary.

Step 4: Support women through awareness and education.
Educating girls, spreading awareness of rights and encouraging women to take part in public life build the base from which future candidates come. Women organisations and movements have played a large part in this.

Final Answer: Representation can be raised by keeping and extending the one-third reservation in local bodies, by reserving one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, by making parties field more women candidates, and by education and awareness that prepare women for public life.