Women as a class neither belong to a minority group nor are they regarded as forming a backward class." In the light of this statement, discuss the evolution of women's reservation from local bodies to Parliament.
Women in India do not fit the "minority" or "backward class" template, yet their political under-representation demanded affirmative representation. Their reservation journey has evolved incrementally:
Local bodies (1992–93): The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments mandated one-third reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities (Articles 243D, 243T). Many states have raised this to 50% (Bihar, Rajasthan, Kerala), producing over 14 lakh elected women representatives.
State legislatures & Parliament: The Women's Reservation Bill was repeatedly stalled from 1996 to 2010.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (106th Amendment): Provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for 15 years, with SC/ST sub-quotas. However, it is tied to the completion of delimitation after the next Census, delaying operationalisation.
Assessment: Local-body reservation has enhanced grassroots participation but faces "sarpanch pati" tokenism. Parliamentary reservation, though transformative, remains contingent on Census and delimitation.
Conclusion: Reservation is a means, not the end — supported by capacity-building it can substantively deepen women's political agency.
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Sarvesh Jha
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