WOMEN RESERVATION BILL- IMPLICATIONS AND EFFECTS

Manisha Khemka

IMB2009019@iiita.ac.in

A historic and a giant step in the parliament currently was the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ which provided for one third of reservation for women in the parliament and the state assemblies. This bill would surely improve the participation of women in the parliamentary affairs of the country and this in turn would have a positive impact on the decision making of the system. Since women had a marginal role in the policy making programs of the country, thus many weaknesses of the system would be eliminated. Issues directly related to the women can now gain more importance and could be dealt more effectively by them.

Before discussing the implications, let us discuss the key features of the bill. One third of all the seats in Lok Sabha assembly would be reserved for women. In case of scheduled castes and scheduled tribe, it would work as a quota within quota i.e. one third of the reserved seats would be further reserved for women of the above mentioned categories. There would be a rotation in the reservation of the seats of the women and it will cease after 15 years from the commencement of the act. Seat allocated would be according to a manner as described by the law.

After discussing the key features, now let us focus on the implications of the legislation. Since the ratio of reservation is 1:2 , thus in the course of three election terms, in each seat in Lok Sabha and each seat in assemblies , there would be two free terms and one reserved term. Thus in a fifteen year term, each seat will get reserved for women only once as in India elections are held every five years. Apart from these implications, there are some other social implications. Women usually find it more difficult to enter into politics as 90% of the political arena is male dominated and find it very difficult to voice their opinions on the platforms of democracy. Many issues like gender discrimination, biasing, social malpractices as female foeticide are still prevalent in the society. Education and respect is still a far dream for the women in the rural areas. Thus the women leaders will help eliminate the problems and issues up to some extent.

Since every coin has a flip side, thus providing reservation to the women could have negative implications too. Having a women at  the top does not mean that all the issues would be resolved. The women in politics usually come from an influential political background, some being daughter or sister or some politician. Thus could in turn lead to the surrogate entry of a politician into the political scenario. Reservation system would directly affect the Indian democratic recipe as instead of promoting equality, it is representing that women are weaker and need to be supported. This may further provoke for the demand of reservation on further caste creed factors which would be an unhealthy practice in the free India. This Bill takes away the democratic right of 33% of the electorate to elect their representatives as after the implementation of bill it became compulsory to fill the reserved seats for women. It is not guaranteed that benefits are received by the socially backward and underprivileged women, who really need them.  Excellence never requires reservation. Efficient educated women will make way on their own to the politics. By raising the concept of reservation in every other sector we are just suppressing the actual intellects. Let the people come to politics, administrative service, army on the basis of their caliber rather than on sex, caste or religion.