India Passes Landmark Bill Reserving Seats for Women in Parliament
India’s parliament made history on Thursday with the passing of a bill that reserves one-third of seats in the lower house and state assemblies for women. The bill received cross-party support and is being hailed as a major achievement for rights groups that have long campaigned for better gender representation in politics.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, was approved by the upper house after being passed by the lower house the previous day. A total of 215 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill during the special parliamentary session.
The passing of the bill is seen as a significant step forward in empowering women in India’s political landscape. Currently, women make up nearly half of the country’s registered voters but only represent 15% of lawmakers in parliament and 10% in state assemblies.
Prime Minister Modi praised the bill’s passage on Twitter, stating that it marks a historic moment in the country’s democratic journey and will strengthen the representation of women power.
However, some members of the opposition expressed disappointment that the bill will not come into effect in time for next year’s general election. They called for the immediate implementation of the bill and also demanded that it include reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC), referring to India’s caste system.
The implementation of the quota for women in parliament could take years as it relies on the redrawing of electoral constituencies, which is dependent on the completion of India’s once-in-a-decade census. The census project, originally scheduled for 2021, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite these challenges, the bill’s passage is expected to boost Prime Minister Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming national elections. India has made progress on women’s issues in recent years but remains a deeply patriarchal society.
According to UN Women’s data, the overall share of lower house parliamentary seats occupied by women globally is around 26%, up from 11% in 1995. Only six countries have achieved 50% or more women in parliament, with Rwanda leading at 61%.
While the Women’s Reservation Bill represents a significant milestone for gender representation in Indian politics, the fight for equality and inclusion continues.