Women's Reservation Bill, 2023

National Affairs

Women's Reservation Bill, 2023

03 Oct 2023 Zinkpot 183

India took a major step forward for gender equality last week when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a special session in parliament, announced the Women Reservation bill that would reserve one-third of seats in the lower house and state legislative assemblies for women.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, as the Bill is called, seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha, the State Legislative Assemblies, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This will also apply to seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
According to Reuters, women occupy just 82 out of 550, or about 15% of seats in the lower house, with the number dipping further in the upper house, where they occupy 31 out of 250 seats, or 12%.
A 2015 Report on the Status of Women in India by the Ministry of Women and Child Development noted that women’s representation in parliament and state assemblies was dismal, especially in senior decision-making positions.
That record has pushed India, often called the world’s largest democracy, toward the bottom of the global list on gender parity in legislatures. India comes in at number 127 out of 146 nations in the Global Gender Gap Index, 2023.
The dire need for affirmative action to improve the status of women in Indian society is one of the main arguments in favor of the bill. Women constitute nearly half of India’s population, and ensuring their participation in decision-making processes is a fundamental aspect of gender justice.
In order to address problems like the high rate of crimes against women, the low participation of women in the workforce, poor nutrition levels, and a skewed sex ratio, women must be represented in the higher decision-making processes.
Empowering women politically can have positive effects on social and economic development. It can lead to policies that promote gender-sensitive development, improved access to education and healthcare for women, and increased economic opportunities.
The bill can contribute to reducing gender disparities in various sectors, including education, employment, and healthcare, as women’s concerns and priorities are more likely to be addressed.
India is a signatory to international agreements and conventions that call for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill demonstrates India’s commitment to these international obligations.