Question.
Discuss the contribution of civil society groups to women's effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures in India.
(UPSC 2023 General Studies Paper 2 (Main) Exam, Answer in 150 words)
Answer.
Although women constitute about 50 % of the population, the Participation of women in Parliament is very low ( it is about 14 %), and this situation is even worse in state legislatures.
Civil Society groups in India have played a crucial role in advocating for women's effective and meaningful participation and representation in state legislatures.
The following are the contributions of civil society groups:
Reservation for Women:
The National Alliance for Women is an organization that is campaigning for Women's reservation bills, which proposes to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies for women.
Campaigns and lobbying efforts contributed to the passage of constitutional amendments such as the 73rd and 74th Amendments, which mandated one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions.
Capacity Building and Training:
Civil Society groups like the Women’s Political Empowerment Initiative (WPEI) are training women from marginalized communities to contest elections.
These initiatives focus on enhancing leadership skills, public speaking, and preparing women for active participation in state legislatures.
Educational Initiatives:
Civil Societies like "Stree Shakti" work towards increasing the political literacy of women, providing information on the electoral process, governance structures, and the importance of political participation.
Support Networks:
Civil Society like the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) creates a support network for women politicians, fostering an environment where they can share experiences and collectively address challenges related to political participation.
In Summary, Civil Society groups in India have been instrumental in creating an enabling environment for women's effective and meaningful participation in state legislatures. Their efforts through advocacy, capacity building, collaboration, and awareness initiatives play a pivotal role in advancing the cause of women's representation and empowerment in the political landscape.
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