NEW DELHI: Increasing women’s political participation at the national level is long overdue.
In June 2024 the World Economic Forum released the Global Gender Gap Index 2024. The list of 146 countries shows Bharat slipping two points, to the 129th position, indicating a deepening gender gap between men and women. According to this report, at the current rate of development, complete equality will come in 2158. That means it will take another 134 years, or about five generations, from now, to achieve complete equality between men and women in Bharat. Bharat is behind Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan in this index. The report also reveals that Bharat is among the countries with the lowest level of economic gender equality. Bharat’s economic equality is 39.8%. This means that a woman earns around Rs 40 for the same work for which a man earns Rs 100. The report further shows that Bharat, with a population of more than 140 crore, will have a gender gap of 64.1% in 2024.
There may be contentions with the parameters and methods used by WEF to arrive at such figures, yet perceptions have to be taken into account. Is this widening gender gap good for an economically healthy society or culturally acceptable in the land where Ardh-Narishwar signifies cultural equality ethos, and Nari-Shakti is revered since the Vedic times?
This deep gender imbalance can be attributed to thousands of years of subjugation, destruction of Vedic education systems, and confining women indoors. The colonial dictate of inheritance to only men further harmed gender equality. As we move towards reforming medieval mind sets, shedding colonial legacies, females too need help to overcome the lingering inhibitions in empowerment.
The “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023” (33% seats in Lok Sabha and state legislatures) is a way forward. Despite its inbuilt limitations of not giving full-fledged political equality, it will definitely facilitate an increase in articulation of women’s aspirations in nation building, once it is operational. However, a matter of much discussion and concern has always been the “winning-ability” factor. Another undeniable fact is that most women lack money or muscle power to independently participate in elections. But this should not deny women equal opportunity for effective political participation in Parliament.
As per Rein Taagepera, a noted political scientist, parliaments, the world over tend to be the size of the cube root of the country’s population. What could be a possible solution? Strategies will also have to be devised for increasing women’s representation in parliament. The discourse on dual Lok Sabha memberships for all constituencies, one male one female, is expensive and impractical, and will increase corruption in election.
A viable suggestion is to reserve 50% Rajya Sabha seats for women. This will make it mandatory for all political parties to give weightage to women candidates from all states in policy formulation.
The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution provides for allocation of seats to the States and Union Territories in Rajya Sabha, on the basis of state’s population. The reorganization of States/UTs has changed the number of elected seats in RS from time to time since 1952. This precedent of increasing the number of seats as per the increase in population can be used to provide a platform to 50% women representatives in the august house. For gender parity, the Dual-members concept—two members from each constituency—can be applied to accommodate 50% female representation and also account for increased population.
Such a large number of women exercising equal power at the highest level would gradually change society’s perception about women and women’s perceptions of themselves. Bharat can also play a historic role to transform patriarchy by using democracy. Equal partnership of men and women in the august house would also influence transformation of hierarchical gender relations in the other spheres, and reduce women’s vulnerability to gender-based deprivation and discrimination.
If 50% of “educated” women from different sectors of society enhance the discourse, dialogue and decision making process of the Rajya Sabha, a strong message will percolate. And then the day will not be far when women at the Panchayats or Gram Sabhas or the Legislature are not sidelined in decision making. Women will be equal partners in making societies better with their intrinsic power, move forward to ensure disparities become a thing of the past and women-led prosperity gains momentum.
We have to acknowledge that increasing of women’s political participation at national level is long overdue, and also that women have proved their mettle in various professions, and even in the political process. Though in Lok Sabha there has been a gradual increase of women from 11.4% in 2014 to 15.5% in 2023, and 14% in 2024, in the Rajya Sabha, as per Election Commission website data, women participation stands at 23%. Yet in terms of world figures of political representation of women, Bharat’s position is a pathetic 148 out of 196 countries (www.ipu.org).
This calls for a game changer initiative by making the Rajya Sabha 50-50. What women want is not power to rule but power to have equal say in meaningful decision making for policies for a Viksit Bharat, which they too envision.
Neera Misra is Chairperson-founder, Draupadi Dream Trust. www.draupaditrust.org