Women’s Political Participation in India

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• Recently, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh emphasized a critical gap in the nation’s political landscape at the first national conference on parliamentary and legislative committees on the empowerment of women.

Women’s Political Participation: Current Landscape

• According to UN Women, only 27.2% of parliamentarians in single or lower houses are women, up from 11% in 1995.
• In India, women hold 14.7% of seats in Lok Sabha, but still far below the global average of 26.5% and ministerial representation is even lower, hovering around 10–11%.
• In State Assemblies, women’s representation varies widely, often falling below 10%.
  • Chhattisgarh leads with 19 women MLAs, while Himachal Pradesh has just one, and Mizoram has none.
• India is ranked at 148 among 193 countries, ranked 31st among 47 Asian countries, and fifth amongst eight SAARC countries.

Why Is Women’s Political Participation in India Still Low?

• Parties and Political Barriers: In the 2024 elections, only 797 women contested, and just 74 won — fewer than the 78 elected in 2019. The root causes include:
  • Low ticket allocation: Parties often court women voters but fail to field adequate women candidates.
  • Patriarchal party structures: Women face stereotypes, exclusion from leadership roles, and lack of internal democracy.
  • Weak mahila wings: These exist across parties but rarely influence ticket distribution or policymaking.
• Patriarchal Social Norms & Gender Stereotypes: Deep-rooted cultural beliefs often discourage women from pursuing political careers.
  • Politics is still perceived as a male-dominated space, and women are frequently expected to prioritize domestic responsibilities over public life.
• Safety and Mobility Concerns: Women face heightened safety risks during political campaigns, especially in rural and conflict-prone areas.
  • It restricts their mobility, public engagement, and ability to build voter bases.
• Low Female Labour Force Participation: India’s female labour force participation rate has historically been low, which often correlates with limited civic and political engagement, especially among marginalized women.

Related Government Initiatives & Policy Push

• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023): It reserves 33% of parliamentary seats for women. However, this reform will not take effect before the 2029 elections.
• 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments: These mandate one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
  • It has led to over 1.4 million elected women representatives, making India a global leader in grassroots gender inclusion.
  • At the state level, 20 states have already raised local body reservations for women from 33% to 50%.
• Nari Shakti-led Development: A policy framework that integrates women’s empowerment across education, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
• National Policy for Women (2016): It emphasizes leadership development and political empowerment.
• Training and capacity-building programs for elected women representatives through institutions like the National Institute of Rural Development.
• Digital literacy and financial inclusion schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Stand-Up India, and NRLM Self-Help Groups which indirectly support women’s civic engagement.

Way Forward

• Enhance Party Democracy: Promote greater transparency and internal democracy within political parties to ensure women have a fair chance at leadership roles and ticket allocation.
• Civic Education: Expand civic education and institutional reforms to dismantle the socio-economic barriers that hinder women’s entry into politics.
• Institutional Reforms: Institutionalize gender audits within political parties and election commissions to monitor and enforce gender equality in their functioning.