Women's political participation in India

Women in India participate in voting, run for public offices and political parties at lower levels compared to men.[2] The Constitution of India attempts to remove gender inequalities by banning discrimination based on sex and class, prohibiting human trafficking and forced labour, and reserving elected positions for women.Independence brought gender equality in the form of constitutional rights, but historically, women's political participation has remained low.Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry all reported higher turnouts among women than men in 2013.[10] The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought to increase voter turnout by cleaning up electoral rolls and removing missing or deceased members.ECI has sought to encourage voter registration among women and participation through education and outreach on college and university campuses.In 2012, India had a minimal percentage of 10.9% women elected representatives in the national parliament, which is, but relatively higher than Hungary (8.8%), Brazil (9.6%), China (9.1%), and Malaysia (9.8%).According to World Economic Forum's annual global gender gap index studies, which considers such a broader scale, India has ranked in top 20 countries worldwide for many years, with 9th best in 2013 - a score reflecting more women's participation in India's political process than Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, France and United Kingdom.[21] Local governing bodies in India are called Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and one-third of seats and leadership positions must be reserved for women.States such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tripura, and Uttarakhand have increased reservations to 50%.In June 2009, the INC nominated a woman to become first speaker of Lok Sabha, and also supported the election of Pratibha Patil, India's first female president.[32] In 2019 Indian general election, Naam Tamilar Katchi from Tamil Nadu fielded 50 per cent women candidates in the total 40 Lok Sabha seats.J. Jayalalithaa Late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu served as 5th General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from 1988 to 2016.[41] The Committee on the Status of Women in India released a report in 1974, and had a significant influence in the reemergence of activism towards gender equality.The report highlighted the significant differences between men and women in India, including the disparity in the sex ratio, mortality rates, employment, literacy, and wage discrimination.Martha Nussbaum highlighted a significant barrier to women's capability of participating in politics to be the threat of violence.[53] Discriminatory attitudes manifest in the limitations presented to Indian women including low access to information and resources.The Government of India requires reservation of seats for Dalits and Scheduled Castes, but women suffer from abuse and discrimination when serving as elected officials."[61] Studies conducted by Niraja Jayal and Nirmala Buch found women are "persistently mocked and devalued in the panchayats if they are illiterate.Many women, particularly in rural areas, face difficulties due to limited financial resources, which impacts their ability to engage fully in political processes.Financial constraints can hinder women from attending Panchayat meetings or participating in political activities, as they may need to focus on earning a livelihood to support their families.Additionally, the lack of financial resources can prevent women from accessing necessary training and information related to political involvement.Studies have shown that financial instability can lead to women being less active in political roles and less able to advocate for their rights effectively.Empowerment is tied to the support of family and improved status within the household, which is undermined by the threat of domestic and sexual violence.The mission of NMEW is to "enhance economic empowerment of girls and women through skill development, micro credit, vocational training and entrepreneurship.