Women's Reservation: Good or Bad? | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

The script discusses the passage of the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill in India, aiming to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It highlights the bill's controversies, including its non-applicability to the 2024 elections and the lack of reservation for OBC women. The video explores the historical context, the evolution of women's political representation, and the challenges of implementing reservations, emphasizing the need for broader societal changes beyond legislative measures for true equality.

Takeaways

• 📜 The 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill has been passed to provide a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, but not without controversy and delay.
• 🗳️ The bill passed with an overwhelming majority in the Rajya Sabha (215-0) and a near majority in the Lok Sabha (454-2), with two MPs from the AIMIM party opposing it on the grounds of exclusion of Muslim and OBC women.
• 🔲 The reservation for women will not apply to the 2024 elections and can only be implemented post the next delimitation exercise, which is likely to occur by 2029 or 2031, raising questions about the timing and necessity of the census and delimitation.
• 🤔 The absence of reservation for OBC women in the bill is a point of contention, with the argument being that there is no constitutional provision for OBC reservation, unlike for SC/ST.
• 👁️ The historical context of women's reservation in India dates back to the Constituent Assembly where women members, despite being few, opposed the idea of reservation, advocating for equality and justice instead.
• 🌐 The script highlights the pervasive misogyny in Indian society, from everyday sexism to political and media figures making derogatory remarks about women, indicating a need for cultural change alongside legal reforms.
• 📊 International comparisons show India lagging in female political representation, with only around 15% of Lok Sabha members being women, compared to countries like Rwanda and Cuba where over 50% of parliamentary members are women.
• 🔄 The concept of Positive Discrimination or Affirmative Action is supported by certain articles of the Indian Constitution, which allows for special provisions to be made for women and children to achieve social equality.
• 🏆 The journey towards women's reservation in political bodies has seen progress at the state level, with many states implementing 50% reservation for women in local bodies, leading to an increase in women representatives.
• 📚 A report from the London School of Economics indicates that women's reservation in local bodies has led to better focus on issues such as water, education, and road connectivity, suggesting potential benefits at the national level.
• 📉 Despite constitutional provisions and legal reforms, the script emphasizes that achieving true equality requires proactive steps beyond political reservations, including improvements in education, health, and employment for women.

Q & A

What is the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill and what does it aim to achieve?

The 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill aims to provide a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies of India, thereby increasing women's representation in political decision-making bodies.

Why was the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill not implemented immediately after its passing?

The implementation of the bill is contingent upon the completion of the delimitation exercise, which involves redrawing the constituencies of the Lok Sabha and Assembly according to the latest census. The delay in the 2021 census has pushed the implementation to an estimated date of 2029 or 2031.

What is the controversy surrounding the lack of reservation for OBC women in the bill?

Critics argue that the bill does not provide reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) women, unlike the provisions for Scheduled Castes/Tribes (SC/ST). This has raised questions about the inclusivity and fairness of the bill.

What was the historical context of women's reservation in the Constituent Assembly of India?

In 1946, during the drafting of the Indian Constitution, there was a debate on women's reservation. Interestingly, some women members of the Constituent Assembly, including Dakshayani Velayudhan and Renuka Ray, opposed the idea of reservation, advocating for equality and the election of women based on merit rather than quotas.

How does the current representation of women in Indian politics compare to other countries?

As of 2023, women make up only about 15% of the Lok Sabha and 8-9% of state legislators in India. This is significantly lower compared to countries like Rwanda, where women constitute 61% of the parliament, and Cuba, where 55% of parliament members are women.

What is the concept of Positive Discrimination or Affirmative Action as mentioned in the script?

Positive Discrimination or Affirmative Action refers to policies that aim to increase the representation of underrepresented groups, such as women, in various sectors, including politics. It is seen as a measure to counter historical disadvantages and promote equality.

How has the Indian Constitution addressed the issue of reservation for women in the past?

The Indian Constitution has provisions for Positive Discrimination, as seen in Articles 15(3), 15(5), and 16(4), which allow the government to make special provisions for women and children to promote equality.

What were the key recommendations of the report titled 'Towards Equality' published in December 1974?

The 'Towards Equality' report highlighted the declining gender ratio in India and the difficulties women faced in accessing education, literacy, and livelihood. It also mentioned the low representation of women in the Indian Parliament and recommended a 30% reservation for women.

What is the MS Gill formula proposed by the Election Commission of India, and why is it significant?

The MS Gill formula suggests that political parties should field a minimum percentage of women candidates in elections. This is significant because it addresses the issue of women's underrepresentation in electoral politics by encouraging greater participation of women as candidates.

Why did the two MPs from the AIMIM party oppose the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill?

Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel from the AIMIM party opposed the bill because they believe it does not adequately address the inclusion of Muslim and OBC women, arguing for further bifurcation of the reservation based on religion and caste.

What are the broader implications of implementing reservation based on religion or caste?

Implementing reservation based on religion or caste could potentially lead to further segmentation and communalism in politics. It raises questions about the secular nature of representation and the effectiveness of such policies in achieving true equality and social justice.