How serious is PM Modi on women’s reservation?

Despite opposition of several parties, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party has had no difficulty in pushing through several legislations, including the Triple Talaq Bill. But when it comes to empowering women by reserving seats for them in the legislature, the Modi Government has been unusually coy despite the BJP manifesto in the 2014 election pledging 33% reservation for women in Parliament as well as the state assemblies.

In the Lok Sabha, the number of women happens to be just 11.7% of the total strength. The percentage is even lower in the Rajya Sabha at 5.13%. Not a single woman got elected to the Nagaland Assembly in the results declared this week. Indeed, in the three state assemblies of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, with a combined strength of 180 MLAs, the number of women is exactly three. Women’s representation in the Union ministry is only slightly better at 9 out of 75.

In the Indian Administrative Service there were 320 women in 2015, constituting 7.7 % of the 4,284 officers.

Congress MP Sushmita Dev confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not bothered to reply to the letter addressed to him by the then Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi urging the PM to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament and pledging the support of her party. The PMO did acknowledge receiving the letter though.

Pointing out that the Bill introduced by the Congress was passed in the Rajya Sabha despite opposition by several UPA allies. But the Bill has lapsed since then and the BJP Government has not bothered to introduce a new Bill.

“BJP is not at all serious about bringing in the bill,” says Dev before adding, “The Triple Talaq Bill did not have any consensus; Trinamool Congress was opposing it, SP was opposing it, Indian National Congress wanted an amendment but still the Modi Government pushed through the bill.” Why is the Prime Minister not displaying similar enthusiasm for the Women’s Reservation Bill, she wondered aloud.

The Government does not tire trumpeting its support for economic reforms but it appears paralysed on what arguably can be a huge social reform. By giving women greater say in legislatures and governance, a large number of women can be empowered, believe experts.

But although the BJP had made a song and dance about it in the run up to the 2014 election and promised to implement 33% reservation, four years down the line, it appears to have accepted that this promise too was an electoral ‘jumla’.

The BJP manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha election read: “Women's welfare and development will be accorded a high priority at all levels within the government, and BJP is committed to 33% reservation in parliamentary and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment.”

“BJP is still committed to bring 33% women reservation bill in the parliament. If the opposition cooperates in smooth running of the Parliament, we are planning to bring the bill in this session only. Many in the ruling BJP believe that passage of Women’s Reservation Bill can boost its prospects ahead of the upcoming 2019 General Elections,” a senior BJP leader claimed on condition of anonymity.