Despite being the world largest democracy, numbers of elected women representative in the India is dismal in both houses of parliament.
Not only in the Parliament, numbers are abysmal in legislative assemblies across the sates. Arunachal does not have a single member in the legislative assembly.
In the municipalities and Panchayat level, thanks to reservation numbers are high. The real participation in these institutions is debatable but none the less, a start has been made.
After decades of heated debate, the Women’s Reservation Bill could soon become legislation. After giving India, its first woman President and the first woman Lok Sabha Speaker, the UPA seem determined to enact the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Nevertheless, the path will not be smooth.
The journey of the Bill has seen many political stunts and debates in the parliament over the last one decade. No political party has so far come out openly against it though going by the rhetoric; it appears they do not want to share political responsibilities with women as yet.
A leader even threatened to commit suicide if the bill was passed in the present form. Opponents of the bill have delayed its progress because they think it’s elitist. Even if it is one, would they pave way for the passage of the bill to begin with? Amendments can always happen later.
Now the makeup of the present parliament is elitist too. It is a club of daughters-in-law, daughters, granddaughters with certain surnames.
On the other hand, proponents too have used it as political tool to woo voters.
Though all the political parties agree on the need to have the bill passed, it is for all to see why the bill is yet to be enacted.
On the other hand, many also say that just reservation of seats for women would not guarantee gender equality as the baton would be with someone else.
Now it remains to be seen whether there would be enough political support to enact it and whether our lawmakers would at least pave away so that women who form half the population of the country at least start their journey towards more participation in decision making.