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The Women’s Reservation Bill has journeyed through decades of debates and discussions, yet its implementation remains uncertain.

Central idea

The recent tabling of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha has brought attention to the long-awaited issue of gender representation in Indian politics. However, despite the grand announcement, there are several complexities and challenges surrounding its implementation that demand scrutiny.

The issue of women’s reservation in Indian politics dates back to the Constituent Assembly debates in 1947, where it was initially rejected as unnecessary.
However, subsequent decades witnessed a decline in women’s political representation, prompting further policy deliberations.
The quest for women’s reservation in legislative bodies began in 1996, with notable progress occurring during Manmohan Singh’s tenure in 2010, when it passed in the Rajya Sabha but faced rejection in the Lok Sabha.
Since then, the commitment to empowering women in India’s political landscape has remained unfulfilled.

Implementation Linked to Census and Delimitation: One of the major complexities is that the bill’s implementation is contingent upon two crucial factors: conducting a new census and completing the delimitation process. Unlike some previous legislation, this bill cannot be immediately enforced but rather depends on these time-consuming processes.
Unclear Timeline: The bill lacks a clear and specific timeline for its implementation. It leaves the question of when reservations for women in legislative bodies will become a reality unanswered. This ambiguity has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to gender equality in politics.

The last census in India was conducted in 2011. Subsequent Census exercises were delayed, with the Union government attributing the postponement to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This delay has had a direct impact on the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill since the bill is linked to the data obtained from the Census.

Even if the Census process moves forward, there is a looming possibility of conflicts arising during the delimitation process.
Delimitation, which involves the division of electoral constituencies, can be contentious, particularly between different regions and states. This could further delay the bill’s implementation and pose political challenges.

Intra-State Women Representation: Unlike the 2008 version of the bill, the current iteration does not include provisions for “intra-state women representation.” The 2008 bill mandated that one-third of Lok Sabha seats in each state or Union Territory should be reserved for women, ensuring representation from various regions within the state.
Rotation of Reserved Seats: The current bill proposes that reserved seats for women should be rotated after every delimitation exercise. This means that the seats set aside for women may change constituency boundaries periodically. In contrast, the 2008 bill did not include such a provision.
Unclear Status During Delimitation: The current bill does not provide clarity on the status of women’s reservations when the delimitation process is ongoing. Given that delimitation commissions typically take several years to issue their reports, it remains uncertain how the reserved seats for women will be affected during this period.

Clear Implementation Plan: The government must outline a comprehensive and transparent plan for the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill. A clear roadmap with specific timelines can provide clarity and boost public confidence in the process.
Fast-Track Census and Delimitation: Expedite the Census and delimitation processes. Swiftly resolve any conflicts that may arise during these procedures to prevent further delays in implementing the bill.
Revise Intra-State Representation: Reconsider the exclusion of intra-state women’s representation from the current bill. Ensuring representation from various regions within a state can enhance diversity and inclusivity.
Seat Rotation Framework: Develop a framework for seat rotation that balances stability and change in women’s representation. Ensure that changes in constituency boundaries do not disrupt the continuity of women in politics.
Encourage Political Parties: Encourage political parties to proactively nominate more women candidates in elections. Parties can voluntarily set quotas for women candidates to increase their presence in legislative bodies.

For a nation that initially championed equal rights and representation for all citizens, this delay is a blemish on the visionary ideals of our founding fathers. It is high time that the promise of women’s reservation in politics transforms into a tangible reality.

Also read:

What will hold up women’s reservation Bill?