Daily Current Affairs : 19-September-2023
The Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008, has been a significant topic of discussion in Indian politics. It aims to reserve one-third of all seats for women in both the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. This essay explores the history, purpose, and impact of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Understanding the Women’s Reservation Bill
The Women’s Reservation Bill, often referred to as the WRB, is a legislative proposal with several key provisions:
- Reserving Seats: The primary objective of the bill is to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. This step is aimed at ensuring greater female representation in India’s political landscape.
- Allocation of Reserved Seats: The bill empowers the authorities prescribed by Parliament to determine the allocation of reserved seats. Additionally, it proposes sub-reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Anglo-Indians within the 33% quota.
- Rotation of Reserved Seats: The WRB suggests that these reserved seats may be rotated among different constituencies in the respective state or union territory. This rotation mechanism aims to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for women candidates.
- Time Limit: Importantly, the reservation of seats for women is not meant to be permanent. According to the bill, this reservation will cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of the Amendment Act.
Historical Background
The journey of the Women’s Reservation Bill has been long and challenging:
- 1989: The idea of women’s reservation in elected bodies was first introduced by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi through a Constitution Amendment Bill. However, it faced resistance in the Rajya Sabha and did not become law.
- 1993: Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao successfully introduced Constitution Amendment Bills 72 and 73, which reserved one-third of seats and chairperson posts for women in local bodies.
- 1996: The 81st Constitution Amendment Bill for reservation of women in Parliament was introduced but did not receive sufficient support. It was referred to the Geeta Mukherjee Committee, which presented recommendations, though the Bill lapsed.
- 1999-2003: The NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee made another attempt, but the Bill failed again.
- 2008: The WRB was tabled in Rajya Sabha and eventually passed with a resounding majority. However, it was never considered in the Lok Sabha and lapsed in 2014.
The Ongoing Need for the Bill
The Women’s Reservation Bill remains relevant due to several compelling reasons:
- Low Representation: Despite some progress, the current Lok Sabha still has only 14% women MPs, falling below the global average of 24%. This underscores the need for increased female representation.
- Affirmative Action: The bill aims to provide affirmative action to improve the status of women in politics. Studies on panchayats have shown that reservation policies positively impact women’s empowerment and resource allocation.
- Gender Gap Index: The World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index highlights the importance of political empowerment as one of its dimensions. The WRB can contribute to reducing the gender gap in this aspect.
- Diverse Perspectives: Having a diverse group of individuals in positions of power can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of issues. Women’s participation in politics can bring unique perspectives and ideas to the table.
Important Points:
- Aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
- Empowers authorities to allocate reserved seats and proposes sub-reservations for SCs, STs, and Anglo-Indians.
- Suggests a rotation mechanism for reserved seats among constituencies.
- Specifies a 15-year time limit for the reservation of seats for women.
Historical Background
- Introduced in 1989 by Rajiv Gandhi, it faced resistance in the Rajya Sabha.
- Successful in 1993 for local bodies but faced challenges for Parliament.
- Several failed attempts in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2008 but not considered in the Lok Sabha, eventually lapsing in 2014.
The Ongoing Need for the Bill
- Current Lok Sabha has only 14% women MPs, below the global average.
- Provides affirmative action to improve women’s status in politics.
- Supports reducing the gender gap in political empowerment.
- Encourages diverse perspectives in positions of power for comprehensive decision-making.
Why In News
The highly anticipated women’s reservation bill is expected to take center stage during the upcoming special session of Parliament, where it will be passionately debated by lawmakers. If passed, this historic legislation will mark a significant milestone in the ongoing fight for gender equality in India.
MCQs about The Women’s Reservation Bill
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What was the outcome of the Women’s Reservation Bill when it was first introduced by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989?
A. It was passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
B. It was rejected in the Lok Sabha but passed in the Rajya Sabha.
C. It faced resistance in the Rajya Sabha and did not become law.
D. It was unanimously approved by all parties in the Lok Sabha.
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Why does the Women’s Reservation Bill continue to be relevant today?
A. Because it aims to reserve 50% of seats for women in Parliament.
B. Due to the high percentage of women MPs in the current Lok Sabha.
C. It provides affirmative action to improve women’s status in politics.
D. Because it has already been successfully implemented in the Lok Sabha.
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What is one of the potential benefits of having more women in powerful positions?
A. It leads to faster decision-making processes.
B. It helps institutions view things from a variety of perspectives.
C. It ensures a more balanced budget allocation.
D. It reduces the need for affirmative action policies.
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