Women’s Reservation in Politics: A Study of Gender Quota in India
1. Pawan Gautam, Research Scholar (Political Science)
Bareilly College, MJP Rohilkhand University
Email Id: pawangautam555@gmail.com
2. Dr. Vandana Sharma, Professor (Political Science)
Bareilly College, MJP Rohilkhand University
Email Id: vandanasharma.bly@gmail.com
Abstract
Equal participation and representation of women in legislative and decision making bodies strengthen democracy. Women represents nearly half of the world’s population but their role is marginal in legislative and decision making bodies. Various government have taken many initiatives to increase representation of women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. Many committees had been formed to study the status of women which suggested various measures to improve the socio- economic and political status of women.
Gender based quota or reservation of seats for women in legislature and other elected bodies is one of the major method which plays pivotal role in increasing presence of women in the Parliament and State Legislatures. Reservation for women in legislature provides opportunity to greater female voices and play constructive role in improving status of women.
The main objective of this paper is to studies the various measures taken to empower women by giving equality of status for women in political process and to improve their representation in elected bodies. This paper analyses the role of various women organisation and their campaigns for political rights and equal status of women during British India. It also discussed the changes in representation of women in the Lok Sabha election after independence. This study also attempts to analyses the various Women Reservation Bill introduced in the Parliament from 1989 to 2023 to provide reservation for women in the elected bodies. This study is based on secondary data collected from government and parliament reports, official reports of various constitutional bodies, government’s committees and news articles.
Keywords: Gender Quota, Justice, Parliament, Reservation, Women
DOI link – https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/2511S01V13P023
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