The grim 'Nari Shakti' reality: When will women be adequately represented in Indian politics?
Source: The Week
“For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.”
Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile.
Amidst the ongoing 2024 general elections, the world’s biggest democracy is witnessing many disruptions, from leaders hopping from one party to another to parties and political parties making extravagant promises to woo their voters. However, one question remains unanswered with every election: When will women be adequately represented in Indian politics?
The continuous under-representation of elected women representatives in legislative bodies and decision-making processes has not only hindered the country's progress toward true equality and inclusive governance, but has also raised the question of whether we are truly democratic regarding electoral representation.
A recent study by Prajatantra, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation that seeks to democratise electoral politics by helping more people participate in electoral politics, has found out in their latest report on 'Political Entry in India' that dynasts, criminals, and crorepatis have enveloped 91.7 per cent of politics. The study further points out the pervasive gender-based gatekeeping issue in state assemblies: only 12 per cent of the elected representatives are women. More alarming is the revelation that out of the total women who get elected, 50 per cent of them have entered the arena through dynastic politics. This indicates a crisis in Indian society, where traditional roles, educational and financial barriers, and exposure deficit have created a political ecosystem that is operating without adequate representation from women's cohorts.
Read here the full article published by The Week on 20 May 2024.
Image by The Week
“For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.”
Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile.
Amidst the ongoing 2024 general elections, the world’s biggest democracy is witnessing many disruptions, from leaders hopping from one party to another to parties and political parties making extravagant promises to woo their voters. However, one question remains unanswered with every election: When will women be adequately represented in Indian politics?
The continuous under-representation of elected women representatives in legislative bodies and decision-making processes has not only hindered the country's progress toward true equality and inclusive governance, but has also raised the question of whether we are truly democratic regarding electoral representation.
A recent study by Prajatantra, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation that seeks to democratise electoral politics by helping more people participate in electoral politics, has found out in their latest report on 'Political Entry in India' that dynasts, criminals, and crorepatis have enveloped 91.7 per cent of politics. The study further points out the pervasive gender-based gatekeeping issue in state assemblies: only 12 per cent of the elected representatives are women. More alarming is the revelation that out of the total women who get elected, 50 per cent of them have entered the arena through dynastic politics. This indicates a crisis in Indian society, where traditional roles, educational and financial barriers, and exposure deficit have created a political ecosystem that is operating without adequate representation from women's cohorts.
Read here the full article published by The Week on 20 May 2024.
Image by The Week