30-November-2024-Editorial

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE: CHALLENGES AND REFORMS

Women’s participation in governance is vital for achieving gender equality and strengthening democracy. However, despite constitutional provisions and progressive legislation, women leaders in India face numerous challenges that limit their autonomy and effectiveness. Recognizing this, the Supreme Court of India has called for structural reforms to empower women leaders and promote gender-inclusive governance.

Challenges Faced by Women in Governance

Systemic Discrimination

• Women elected to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) often face discrimination from bureaucrats, who perceive them as subordinate.
• Bureaucratic overreach is common, with officials bypassing elected women leaders and making unilateral decisions, disregarding their authority.
• This undermines democratic principles and restricts women from actively contributing to governance.

Sarpanch-Patism (Pradhan-Pati Culture)

• The phenomenon of pradhan-pati refers to male relatives, especially husbands, unofficially taking control of powers meant for elected women leaders.
• Women leaders are often reduced to ceremonial roles while their male family members exercise real authority.
• This practice directly contradicts the intent of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which reserves seats for women in panchayats to empower them.

Political Barriers

• Women leaders lack access to adequate financial resources and political networks, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts.
• Political parties frequently allocate fewer resources to female candidates, limiting their ability to campaign effectively.
• Due to these constraints, many women leaders hold office for only a single term, preventing them from gaining experience and creating a sustained impact.

Violence and Intimidation

• Women in governance are often subjected to harassment, threats, or even violence.
• Some female leaders face retaliation from administrative authorities or community members for asserting their authority.
• Such hostility discourages active participation and limits women’s effectiveness in leadership roles.

Neglect of Natural Justice

• The removal of elected women leaders often happens arbitrarily, without providing them a fair hearing or adhering to democratic norms.
• Opaque decision-making processes perpetuate systemic biases against women.

Structural Barriers

• Administrative delays and procedural inefficiencies hinder developmental projects initiated by women leaders.
• This discourages women from taking on leadership roles or pursuing meaningful initiatives during their tenure.

Role of Women in Governance

Promoting Gender Equality

• Women leaders challenge societal norms by breaking stereotypes and establishing their presence in public and political spaces.
• Their active participation in governance helps bridge the gender gap and ensures equitable decision-making.

Improving Policy Outcomes

• Women bring unique perspectives based on their lived experiences, leading to more inclusive and empathetic policies.
• For instance, elected women representatives in Rajasthan have contributed to environmental sustainability by promoting cleanliness drives and reducing plastic usage.
• Women leaders are perceived as less corrupt and more transparent, fostering trust in governance.

Encouraging Grassroots Participation

• Women in local governance inspire others to engage in political processes, creating a ripple effect of empowerment.
• Their involvement strengthens Self-Help Groups (SHGs), improving economic opportunities and rural livelihoods.
• Over 44% of positions in PRIs are occupied by women, demonstrating the success of reservation policies.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence

• Women leaders actively combat social evils like domestic violence, child marriage, and abuse.
• In 2023, women leaders helped prevent nearly 2 lakh child marriages, highlighting their role in protecting vulnerable groups.

Strengthening Democracy

• Women’s representation ensures equal participation in policymaking and upholds democratic values.
• Their involvement promotes social justice by giving half the population a voice in governance.

Women’s Representation in Governance

Parliament

• Women constitute 6% of members in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024) and 13% in the Rajya Sabha.
• The number of women contesting elections has significantly increased, with 799 female candidates in 2024 compared to 45 in 1957.

State Legislatures

• Women’s representation averages only 9% in state assemblies, with no state exceeding 20%.
• Chhattisgarh leads with 18%

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

• Women hold 6% of positions in PRIs, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report of 2024.

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)

• Women occupy 46% of seats in urban local bodies, with some cities exceeding 60% representation.

Global Comparison

• India ranks 143rd out of 185 countries in women’s representation in Parliament, highlighting the need for improvement.

Government Initiatives to Empower Women

Constitutional Amendments

• 73rd Amendment (1992): Mandates one-third reservation for women in PRIs.
• 74th Amendment (1992): Provides similar reservations in urban local bodies.

Women’s Reservation Act (2023)

• Reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
• The implementation depends on the next census and a delimitation exercise.

National Commission for Women (NCW)

• Established in 1992 to protect and promote women’s rights, including their participation in governance.

Supportive Legislation

• Acts like the Domestic Violence Act (2005) and Workplace Harassment Act (2013) create safer environments for women leaders.

Development Programs

• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): Strengthens PRIs and encourages women’s participation through training and capacity-building initiatives.
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP): Promotes women’s active involvement in local governance, including budgeting and monitoring.

Way Forward

Structural Reforms

• Establish accountability mechanisms to prevent bureaucratic overreach and ensure equal treatment of women leaders.
• Simplify administrative processes to empower women to execute developmental projects efficiently.

Technology Integration

• Use digital platforms to monitor women’s participation and address their challenges in real-time.
• Develop mobile applications to report grievances and enhance grassroots accountability.

Promoting Leadership

• Offer mentorship and training programs to build women’s capacity as leaders, especially in rural areas.
• Increase representation of women in administrative roles like Panchayat Secretaries.

Ensuring Inclusivity

• Create a culture of collaboration between elected representatives and bureaucrats to support inclusive governance.
• Implement strict measures to prevent interference by male relatives in women’s leadership roles.

Legal Safeguards

• Penalize violations of principles of natural justice and establish grievance redressal mechanisms to address harassment and bias.