POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN INDIA AND WOMEN RESERVATION BILLS

One of the largest democratic country of the world, India has women population comprising nearly half of its entire population. The Constitution of India prepared after independence and adopted thereafter on 26^th January 1949 provides for the state to make positive discrimination to the women and marginalized sections of the society. Accordingly, necessary legislative interventions were made for their welfare, development and advancement in all sphere of their lives. The women have also been actively participating in all levels of the political sphere by joining hand with their male counterparts. However, the political empowerment of women in connection with mainstream politics had not been properly addressed. In this backdrop, this book brings a review and analyses on related issues. It also outlines those constitutional provisions and institutional mechanism created in India towards welfare, development, advancement and empowerment of women. It reports on the composition and strength of membership at the Indian Parliament and State Assemblies.It also reviews different aspects of women’s participation in the electoral politics of every Lok Sabha elections held in India from 1951 to 2019. Whereas, in absence of any legislative intervention or constitutional provision for seat reservation to women, a status of their representation at both Houses of the Parliament along with that of the State Legislative Assemblies are presented. However, efforts  undertaken for seat reservation to women for their representation in the mainstream politics and top-level decision-making process could be observed since 73^rd and 74^th Constitutional Amendments.  It was done though introduction of Bills in the Parliament of India for creation of necessary provision towards seat reservation to women at the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. In this context, this book highlights different aspects of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which finally turned into Act.  It also presents a case study made on the state of Sikkim relating to (a) electoral participation of women in general election to State’s Legislative Assembly, and (b) political representation of women in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and also at the Parliament of India.