GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:

• K.: 263 women MPs (40%) in the House of Commons.
• South Africa: 45% women representation in the National Assembly.
• S.: 29% women representation in the House of Representatives.
• New Zealand: First to grant universal women suffrage in 1893.
• K.: Universal suffrage granted in 1928.
• S.: Equal voting rights granted through the 19th Amendment in 1920.

WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN INDEPENDENT INDIA

• Right to Vote:
  • Women had the right to vote from the first general elections in 1952.
• Parliamentary Representation:
  • Low representation (5%-10%) in Lok Sabha until 2004.
  • Increased to 12% in 2014 and 14% in the 18th Lok Sabha.
  • State Legislative Assemblies: National average around 9%.
• Constitutional Amendments:
  • 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992/1993): One-third reservation for women in panchayats and municipalities.
  • Attempts for similar reservations in Lok Sabha and assemblies (1996-2008) were unsuccessful.

GLOBAL COMPARISON OF WOMEN MPS

• Methods to Ensure Representation:
  • Voluntary or legislated compulsory quotas within political parties.
  • Quota in parliament through reservation of seats.
• Pros and Cons:
  • Party quotas offer democratic choice and flexibility.
  • Parliamentary quotas may be seen as non-meritorious and could reduce MPs’ constituency engagement.
• Global Examples:
  • Countries with parliamentary quotas (e.g., Bangladesh, Pakistan) fare poorer than those with party quotas.

THE 106TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

• Current Scenario:
  • India ranks 143rd in the ‘Monthly ranking of women in national parliaments’ by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (April 2024).
  • Trinamool Congress: 38% women MPs.
  • BJP and Congress: Around 13% each.
  • Naam Tamilar Katchi (Tamil Nadu): Voluntary 50% quota for women candidates.
• Provisions of the 106th Amendment:
  • One-third reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies.
  • Aims to ensure fair representation and increase gender sensitivity in parliamentary processes.
  • Anticipated increase in women Ministers at Centre and State levels.
• Implementation:
  • Linked to the first Census conducted after the commencement of the act.
  • Census, overdue since 2021, is crucial for implementation starting with the 2029 general elections.

CONCLUSION

• Need for Action:
  • Timely Census to facilitate the reservation.
  • Political will to implement the 106th Amendment.
• Expected Outcomes:
  • Enhanced political participation of women.
  • Greater gender equity in legislative bodies.
  • Improved policy-making reflecting women’s perspectives.