Women’s Reservation Bill: A Long Road Ahead
Central Idea
Passed unanimously by both houses
Aims to provide 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023,
Overview
Constitutional amendments introduce new articles (330A and 332A) and include a 15-year sunset clause.
Proposes reserving one-third of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats for women, including those from SCs/STs
Discourse on
Women’s Reservation
The Panchayati Raj Act (1993) reserved 33% of seats in local government for women.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, introduced in 1996, gained momentum and was approved by the Rajya Sabha in 2010.
Historical context, recommendations, and reports dating back to the pre-Independence era set the stage.
Practical
Obstacles
Seat Identification
Uncertainty
Delimitation Act, 2002, reserves seats for SCs and STs based on population distribution.
Delimitation Process Dependency
Delay in the 2021 Census results publication could impact the timeline, possibly making women’s reservation effective in the Lok Sabha only by 2029.
Linking women’s reservation to delimitation, which may cause significant delays.
Lacks specifics on how reserved seats will be identified, requiring a separate law for clarification.
Past proposals suggested rotation and lot-drawing methods, but the government's approach remains unclear.
Amendments to Articles 82 and 170(3) of the Constitution are necessary to operationalize women’s reservation.
Others:
Limited party ticket allocation, perceived electability, structural barriers, vulnerability, financial constraints, and internalized patriarchy.
Includes a sunset clause, making the reservation valid for 15 years from the Act’s commencement.
Significance
Participation enhances women’s political capacity.
Reservation challenges stereotypes and promotes participation.
Reservation encourages women to enter politics and contest elections.
Economic excellence and lower corruption rates.
Reservation addresses women’s under-representation.
Conclusion
Gender-sensitive policies policymaking
A step towards India to become global leader
Long overdue, with women waiting for their rightful place