Women's Reservation Bill: A look at women's participation in Parliament over the years

“Because democracy entails not only government responsiveness to citizen interests but also equal consideration of the interests of all citizens, democratic participation must also be equal,” Sydney Verba writes in his book Fairness, Equality, and Democracy: Three Big Words and Voice and Equality, suggesting that the equality in political decisions is a key element of a functioning democracy. India is now paving the way for it. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, and introduced it on the first day of House proceedings in the new Parliament House. The measure proposes to reserve a 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state legislatures. However, it will not be implemented until the delimitation procedure is completed in 2029. Currently, women make up 14.36 per cent of the total number of MPs in India’s lower house, Lok Sabha, with 78 elected women MPs out of 543 total seats. Here is the history of women’s representation in Parliament over the years. From five to double digit: Women’s representation in India Looking at the history of women representation in Lok Sabha, the percentage remained about five till the 1970s and it was only in 2009 that it could reach a double-digit figure. Women’s representation in Rajya Sabha has been slightly lower than in Lok Sabha, not yet crossing 13 per cent of the total membership of the house since 1951. **Also Read: Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha: A look at its contentious history** The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was listed for introduction in the Lower House through a supplementary list of business. The government said the Women’s Reservation Bill is aimed at enabling greater participation of women in policy-making at state and national levels. The statement of purpose of the bill said the role of women is extremely important for achieving the goal of India becoming a developed country by 2047. [caption id=“attachment_13143882” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The highest proportion of women representatives elected to Lok Sabha so far was in the 2019 elections, but it was nearly 15 per cent of total membership while the highest proportion of women representatives to Rajya Sabha stood at 12.7 per cent in 2014. PTI[/caption] The highest proportion of women representatives elected to Lok Sabha so far was in the 2019 elections, but it was nearly 15 per cent of total membership while the highest proportion of women representatives to Rajya Sabha stood at 12.7 per cent in 2014. In Lok Sabha in 1951, the representation of women stood at five per cent which remained same in 1957. The percentage increased to six per cent in 1962, 1967 and it was recorded at five per cent in 1971, four per cent in 1977, five per cent in 1980, eight per cent in 1984, six per cent in 1989, seven per cent in 1991, seven per cent in 1996, eight per cent in 1998, nine per cent in 1999, eight per cent in 2004, 11 per cent in 2009 and 12 per cent in 2014. While in Rajya Sabha, women representation stood at 6.9 per cent in 1952, 7.8 per cent in 1954, 8.6 per cent in 1956, 9.5 per cent in 1958, 10.2 per cent in 1960, 7.2 per cent in 1962, 8.9 per cent in 1964, 9.8 per cent in 1966, 9.6 per cent in 1968, 5.8 per cent in 1970, 7.4 per cent in 1972, 7.5 per cent in 1974, 10.1 per cent in 1976, 10.2 per cent in 1978. **Also Read: Why is Women’s Reservation Bill back in focus? Why has it been hanging for 27 years?** Women’s representation stood at 12 per cent in 1980, 10.1 per cent in 1982, 10.3 per cent in 1984, 11.5 per cent in 1986, 10.6 per cent in 1988, 10.3 per cent in 1990, 7.2 per cent in 1992, 8.3 per cent in 1994, 7.8 per cent in 1996, 7.7 per cent in 1998, nine per cent in 2000, 10.2 per cent in 2002, 11.4 per cent in 2004, 10.2 per cent in 2006, 9.8 per cent in 2008, 11 per cent in 2010, 10.6 per cent in 2012, 12.7 per cent in 2014, 11 per cent in 2016, 11.4 per cent in 2018 and 10.2 per cent in 2020. In state legislative Assemblies or Vidhan Sabhas, meanwhile, average representation is even lower, mostly below 10 per cent. The number of women candidates and MPs varies greatly across states and parties. [caption id=“attachment_13143892” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The government said the Women’s Reservation Bill is aimed at enabling greater participation of women in policy-making at state and national levels. PTI[/caption] In the present 17th Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have the highest numbers of women MPs, according to an analysis by think-tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) of December, 2022. Countries with women’s quotas in Parliament Women’s representation in government is low not just in India, but globally. Given the importance of women in society, a quota in government has been approved in 107 nations, including Australia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Rwanda, Cuba, Mexico, New Zealand, and the UAE have the greatest female participation rates in their lower houses, with 50 per cent or more. However, women account for less than 33 per cent of the population in 134 of 185 countries. In addition, 91 countries have less than 25 per cent female involvement. India has approximately 15 per cent. As of June 2023, India ranked 148th out of 193 countries in terms of the percentage of elected women representatives in national legislatures. Whereas the global average for “lower chamber or unicameral” is 25.8 per cent, India sits at 14.4 per cent, with 78 out of 543 Lok Sabha representatives elected in 2019 being women, the greatest number to date. The Indian parliament is bicameral, with female MPs constituting 11.6 per cent of the upper house, or Rajya Sabha, as per a study quoted by Al Jazeera. With inputs from PTI