Hindu Editorial Analysis : 11-October-2023

Gender disparity remains a pressing issue worldwide, especially in the realm of political leadership. The 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum highlights the significant gaps that still persist in achieving gender equality. In India, despite having notable female leaders like Indira Gandhi and Jayalalitha, women’s representation in politics is far from adequate. The 2019 general election marked a historic moment, but women’s political participation remains a challenge.

Challenges in Women’s Political Leadership
  1. Longer Path to Leadership
    • Despite high education levels, women take longer to assume leadership roles compared to their male counterparts.
  2. Non-Representation of On-Ground Challenges
    • Privileged women leaders often fail to understand and address the challenges faced by less privileged women, lacking empathy for their struggles.
  3. Regressive Gender Opinions
    • Societal views on gender roles hinder women from assuming leadership positions, reinforcing traditional stereotypes.
  4. Infrastructural Barriers
    • Young women face obstacles like lack of clean facilities and secure accommodations, limiting their political involvement.
The Women’s Reservation Bill: A Ray of Hope
  1. Current Women’s Representation
    • Women’s participation in local bodies is significant, but their presence in state legislatures and Parliament is limited to 15% in the Lok Sabha and even lower in state assemblies.
  2. Reservation Proposal
    • The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, proposes a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
  3. Key Provisions
    • The Bill introduces new articles, 330A and 332A, in the Constitution to facilitate reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies respectively.
  4. Contingent Implementation
    • Implementation is contingent upon the delimitation process, ensuring a fair allocation of reserved seats.
  5. Sunset Clause
    • The Bill includes a sunset clause, limiting the reservation period to 15 years from the Act’s commencement.
Challenges and Criticisms
  1. Delimitation Process
    • The freeze on the delimitation exercise until 2026 poses a challenge, delaying effective implementation until after the 2029 general elections.
  2. Lack of Specifications
    • The Bill lacks specificity regarding the identification of reserved seats, leaving room for ambiguity and potential conflicts.
  3. Need for Enactment of a Law
    • Enabling in nature, the Bill grants the government power to enact a law for implementation, requiring additional legislative steps for effective execution.
Why In News

The Women’s Reservation Bill is not only the first step towards actualizing gender parity but also a powerful testament to the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and equality. By ensuring women’s participation in political decision-making processes, the bill empowers women to contribute actively to shaping the future of our nation, fostering a society where every voice is heard and respected.

MCQs about Empowering Women in Politics

  1. What does the Women’s Reservation Bill propose?
    A. 10% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
    B. 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
    C. 50% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
    D. No reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
    Correct Answer: B. 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
    Explanation: The Women’s Reservation Bill proposes a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
  2. What is the major challenge in the effective implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill?
    A. Lack of support from women leaders.
    B. Delimitation process and its delay.
    C. Limited participation of women in politics.
    D. Inadequate funding for women candidates.
    Correct Answer: B. Delimitation process and its delay.
    Explanation: The delimitation process and its delay pose a significant challenge to the effective implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, delaying its operationalization until after the 2029 general elections.
  3. Which provision in the Women’s Reservation Bill ensures a fair allocation of reserved seats?
    A. Sunset Clause.
    B. New articles 330A and 332A.
    C. Contingent Implementation.
    D. Reservation Proposal.
    Correct Answer: C. Contingent Implementation.
    Explanation: Contingent Implementation ensures a fair allocation of reserved seats by making the implementation of women’s reservation contingent upon the delimitation process.
  4. Why is the lack of specifications in the Women’s Reservation Bill a concern?
    A. It may lead to unequal representation among women.
    B. It might result in a shortage of reserved seats for women.
    C. It could cause confusion and potential conflicts in seat allocation.
    D. It may discourage women from participating in politics.
    Correct Answer: C. It could cause confusion and potential conflicts in seat allocation.
    Explanation: The lack of specifications in the Women’s Reservation Bill regarding the identification of reserved seats could cause confusion and potential conflicts in seat allocation, making it a significant concern.

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