One of the most anticipated pieces of Indian legislation is the measure of women’s reservations. The measure was authorized by the Cabinet Minister on September 18, 2023, and is anticipated to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Day 2 of the extended session of Parliament. In the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, one-third of the seats would be set aside for women under the proposed bill.
During the all-party meeting held before the session, a special session of Parliament was summoned to examine the Women’s Reservation Bill. The Rajya Sabha voted in 2010 to pass this bill, commonly known as the 108th Amendment Bill. The measure was presented to the Lok Sabha thirteen years later.
Along with men, women play a crucial part in ensuring that justice is done in society. Justice for women is just as crucial as it is for men. For the most part, cases involving crimes involving women of any age require the assistance of women in order to be resolved. Women’s seat reservations have the potential to fundamentally alter our nation’s social structure.
According to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the growth and progress of women in a society are the only indicators of measuring the development and progress of a community in a country which is the real progress of the country that the country has accomplished.
Women can more easily see their difficulties and take action to improve their situation when they participate in parliamentary matters of their country. Women’s opinions and participation in any significant issues were suppressed from the outset because they were women. Their spouses’ domineering behaviour started as a result of this. Since women were traditionally viewed as homemakers, their difficulties were never discussed aloud and they were expected to put up with them at all times. Women had to act to stop this, therefore they had to move forward and take a stand to comprehend the issues faced by women in need of any kind of emergency and to speak on behalf of countless women who are unable to speak up for themselves.
The women’s reservation measure should be taken into account since the new Parliament building will be the starting point of a new era. As stated by BJD leader Pinaki Misra, “The bill will not take an hour or so to pass in the Lok Sabha.” Mahua Maji, a JMM MP from Jharkhand, felt that the women’s quota Bill should also include “reservation within the reservation,” which indicates that seats should be reserved for SC, ST, and OBC women as well since “otherwise women from these categories will not get representation.”
Currently, women make up barely 15% of Lok Sabha members. Their representation in state assemblies is less than 10%.
The bill suggests reserving seats for women in legislative bodies in order to abolish the quota. The proposed bill would eliminate the quota for women in legislative bodies 15 years after it became law. One-third of the seats in reserved constituencies designated for members of the SC and ST groups will go to women from those communities.
The presentation of women in all categories—including SC, ST, and OBC—and the provision of seats for them in the political arena have been made possible by the passage of this bill. This has given women, whether they are young or old, the opportunity to speak for all of these categories and to have their problems heard. As a result, the long-term development, growth, and prosperity of our nation in these types of reservations can be very beneficial and can make a significant difference and promote gender equality in society.
Our nation’s economy will function better with more women in the legislature. They are equally adept at assisting in economic progress and are more productive at work when it comes to handling projects and money-related issues. When women are involved in decision-making in parliament, there may be fundamental changes in governance. Women’s economic empowerment can boost their well-being and ability to manage risks, as well as their economic standing. To create a stronger India, it can be desired that women participate in all fields and industries.
Women hold half of the country’s political power, thus empowering women in parliament is important as well. This action of elevating women’s status in society through participation has the potential to inspire and awaken people to take action against gender inequality and prioritize women’s empowerment across the nation. The main benefits may include the eradication of women’s social segregation and the empowerment of women.
Conclusion
Men and women are treated equally in all spheres of life, including the reserving of seats in the parliament for women or sports or other categories as well. By reserving seats in parliament for women, society as a whole is strengthened, and women are inspired to get involved in politics and parliamentary affairs. By designating such reservations for women, a perception of equality was maintained and women had the same rights to enter parliament as males. This shows that the respect for women in India and around the world is been greatly influenced by this sense of equality.
