Q14. Discuss the contribution of civil society groups for women’s effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India.

Introduction

Civil society groups are non-governmental organizations and institutions that represent the interests and will of citizens. In the context of India, they have played a pivotal role in encouraging women’s representation in state legislatures, which is vital for a balanced and inclusive democracy that truly represents the diverse populace of the nation.

No state has more than 20% women representation in its Assembly. Chhattisgarh has the highest representation with 18% women MLAs, while Himachal Pradesh has just one-woman MLA and Mizoram has none. Both men and women have more than 75% attendance in Lok Sabha

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Contribution of Civil Society Groups for Women’s Effective Participation and Representation

• Sensitization Programs: Organizations such as “Jagori” and “Swayam” have consistently worked on sensitizing the populace about women’s rights and nurturing women’s participation in politics through numerous awareness programs.
• Leadership Training: The “Women’s Political Empowerment Program” executed by the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) stands as a monumental initiative, empowering over 15,000 women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and grooming them for greater roles in state legislatures.
• They have also provided training and support to women candidates: helping them to develop the skills and knowledge needed to run successful campaigns. Ex. Swayam worked for giving training about political rights .
• Policy Advocacy: Institutions like the “Centre for Social Research” have championed policy changes, prominently advocating for the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve seats for women in legislatures.
• Research and Documentation: Entities like “PRIDE India” have been industrious in documenting relevant data and propagating research-backed advocacies for women’s rights and representation in politics.
• Grassroot Mobilization: SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) has undertaken extensive efforts in mobilizing women at the grassroots, setting a robust foundation for nurturing women leaders for state legislatures.

Challenges

• Patriarchal Society: Deep-rooted patriarchal norms in states like Haryana have historically impeded women’s active participation, demonstrating a glaring gender disparity in legislative representation.
• Low Representation: Women constitute only 10% of the total members of state legislative assemblies (MLAs) in India, which is far below the global average of 25.5%.
• Lack of support system: Women’s representation in state legislatures is not only a matter of quantity but also of quality. Studies have shown that women MLAs face various constraints such as lack of experience, training, mentoring, networking, information, and autonomy.
• Safety Concerns: A report by Amnesty International found that women politicians in India face sexist abuse, rape threats, and death threats on social media platforms like Twitter. Moreover, women politicians also face physical attacks and intimidation during election campaigns and rallies.
• Resource Constraints: According to data from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, women candidates received only 9% of the total funds declared by political parties.

Way Forward

• Mentorship Programs: Taking a leaf from “Women2Women” international leadership program, India could foster mentorship programs where established women leaders guide aspiring young females, sharing insights and experiences, and helping them to navigate the political landscape.
• Financial Grants: Encourage corporate sectors to contribute towards women’s political campaigns, taking inspiration from the ‘Facebook’s SheLeads initiative,’ which provided grants and mentorship to women-led businesses.
• Capacity Building Workshops: Leverage the expertise of organizations like the “National Commission for Women” which has previously organized capacity-building workshops, to foster a culture of learning and skill enhancement for aspiring women politicians.
• Research and Data Compilation: Organizations like “Women in Politics: India” have been tracking women’s representation in Indian politics. Such platforms can be further leveraged to compile data and create comprehensive reports to aid policy recommendations.
• Networking Platforms: Building on examples like the “Women’s Political Network” in Montenegro, India can foster platforms encouraging international collaboration and the sharing of best practices for fostering women’s participation in politics.
• Legislative Reforms: Drawing inspiration from Rwanda, which leads in women representation in the legislature due to affirmative action, India could look towards revisiting policies and introducing reforms to ensure a mandated representation of women in state legislatures.

Conclusion

Overall, the contributions of civil society groups have initiated a positive change, albeit there is a considerable journey ahead. Enhancing educational interventions, ensuring safety, and promoting financial backing are critical paths to forge a future where women are not just spectators but active participants and leaders in the democratic processes.