Political Status of Women

♤ Women have a very low status in the political scenario in the country.

♤ The number of women in the Parliament has never crossed the 20% mark till now. 50% of the population is represented by less than 20% participation is a clear indication of the poor political status of women.

♤ The government had proposed a reservation for women in the Parliament, but the bill has still now been passed.

♤ In the Panchayats, 33% of the seats are reserved for women. This has led to development of many women leaders, but in many places the concept of sarpanch pati has emerged where the women is just the nominal sarpanch, whereas her husband is the real decision making authority.

♤ Such practices needs to be discouraged, and women should be provided with more political empowerment.

♤ Political empowerment to women can have the following impacts:

o More focus on women related issues

o More sensitive handling of women related issues at the top level can have an immense impact on the status of women

o It would help in inspiring other women to take up such roles, and thus it can help create multiple women leaders