iii. What is the role of women in Indian politics?
The political role of women in India has been complex and evolving. Historically, women in India have been underrepresented in politics, with a low percentage of women in positions of power.
- Women’s political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy.
- There is also strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policy-making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic and racial minorities.
- The three main parameters to assess the state of women’s participation in politics in India are: Women voter turnout, women’s candidature in elections, and women representation in political offices.
- The female voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections has increased from 46.6% in 1962 to 66.9% in 2019, which indicates their increasing role in politics. Also, the number of female representatives in the Lok sabha increased from 5% in 1951 to 14% in 2019.
Representation of women leaders at the grassroots level in India is nearly 50%, especially since the 73rd and 74th amendments in 1992, which allotted one-third of all seats to women.