Analyzing The Efficacy Of Women Reservation Act Vis-À-Vis First-Generation Representatives
- IJLLR Journal
- May 13
- 2 min read
Deeksha, Research Scholar, Bennett University (The Times Group)
ABSTRACT
In the modern era, there has been a long-standing demand for equality for female gender. This demand arose out of the observed systematic oppression of women across various societal spheres. Activists and groups on various levels have worked towards overcoming the societal barriers and creating an equal society for both sexes. But such equality cannot come from mere financial opportunities, Representative equality in decision making process is also instrumental. Towards this end, Government of India has taken an initiative with Women Reservation Act that has enabled the government to reserve one-third (1/3rd) of seats in Lok Sabha for women. With the average female representation in Lok Sabha being around 15%, this is a forward step in bridging the gender gap. This Act is introduced with the objective of eradicating gender-based discrimination in political sphere and to remove the strong patriarchal influence from decision making process; but herein lies an inherent problem. Present and erstwhile women representatives in Lok Sabha predominantly hail from politically connected or affluent families who already had access to electoral process, but they too enjoy benefits of such reservation. This doesn’t go against the objective of the Act, but it doesn’t fulfill the vision of lawmakers either. Studies conducted on smaller scales also show that in case of panchayat elections it’s the upper caste women who majorly benefit from the reservation. While it is equally important to highlight that this reservation in electoral process has helped under- represented women to be part of the decision-making process, but such examples are few and far in-between. Thus, while there is going to be an increase in women representation, the question remains whether such increase is in line with the substance of the Act or not. This paper will address the efficacy of Women Reservation Act on grounds of increase in representation of under-represented or marginally represented groups.
Keywords: Women representation, Democracy, Gender gap, Under- representation.
