Gender Participation in 2014 'Mahasangram'

written by: Khyati Srivastava   (khyati.khush@gmail.com)

 

‘Komal hai kamzor nahi, Shakti ka naam hi nari hai!’

 India is a country where Nation is respected as Mother India. The country trapped by dogmatic customs, but still the youngest democracy of the world that gave voting rights to women since its formation. However, the manuwadi culture and dogmatic customs that has been followed in all sections and communities of our society since so many years has held its roots so deep that we are still reviving our social system and give women their deserved status. When Indian elections happen to be no less than big fat Indian weddings, women also have their crucial in Indian democracy.

Here we shall see this role in two aspects, one their voter turnout, and second participation in power, in special reference to General Elections 2014.

 1.      Women voter turnout:

Gender-wise voter turnout break-up figures were not accounted before 1967. Separate voter turnout gender-based was considered from the 1967 General elections, when it was learnt that inspite of giving voting rights, it is a very small percentage that uses it.

These figures are analysed, then several derivation can be made, as under :

• The voter turnout in India has gone-up. It was the highest voter turnout in 2014. After all, 2014 general elections were celebrated all across the nation as a festival.
• The most significant achievement noted in 2014 General elections was the tremendously increased women voter turnout.  It was also the highest this time India witnessed.
• Women turnout in India till now could hardly touch the score of 60% turnout, but this time it straight forward jumped to 65.3%

• As compared to male voter turnout, female turnout has never been at par. The difference between both ends has generally been around 10%. 2014 elections have brought it down to the lowest score of 1.79%. Before this in 1984-85 elections they were low at 2.6%, could be said that the demise of the Iron Lady of India brought the women of India come out to vote.
• Hence, the graph above shows the male-female participation in voter turnout converging, where women are coming almost at par in the society, and making political decisions.

• If trends of change in female turnout are observed, then 2014 elections mark a milestone in recording the highest increase in female turnout. Earlier the highest rise in women participation in voting was recording in 1984-85 elections which were held after the death of Smt Indira Gandhi.

 

 

       2.     Women Representation in Lok Sabha:

India is a nation that considers women to play a very vital role in decision-making, and power-sharing. It is the land Goddess Durga and Gargi, Maitri. The mighty land of Rani of Jhansi and Savitri Bai Phule. Due to certain orthodox and evil customs Indian women have been kept deprived of these rights and powers.

However, Indian democracy has opened all gateways for women ensuring them position at par with men. But due the social structure this isn’t making things for them. Especially when it comes to participation in decision making for the Nation, and sharing power representing people at the Lok Sabha, then the hindrances are both ways, intrinsic as well as extrinsic. 

 The trends of women representation in Lok Sabha are as under :

• No doubt motivation in women to contestant elections has significantly risen since 1957 to 2014. But it has been tremendously lower than that of men. Hence this increase means no great success, because since 1957participation of both men & women has risen many-folds. All thanks to the democratic structure. But the huge gap between men-women numbers fighting for power signifies that the societal structure still needs revival.

• Perhaps, the rising graph of women participation in the quest for power is a ray of hope. But it has increase may-folds to meet at par with men. For this we must aspect efforts from the entire society. Indian women have to be motivated both internally and externally.

• Now if see the number of Male-female elected out of these who fight for representation at Lok Sabha, we can get their winnability on comparing the figures above. The figures hence derived are below :

• Here we can clearly see that women representation in the Lok Sabha has always been very low as compared to men. However, we can see a rising trend with 11.23% representation in 16^th Lok Sabha constituted in 2014.

• From 96% men representing at Lok Sabha in 1957 it have fallen to 88% in 2014, and that of women has risen from 4% in 1957 to 11% in 2014. Not only their number has risen, but their percentage is too rising. But the pace of increase is an issue of concern. The pace with which their contesting spirit has risen, their representation has not. This implies that acceptance of women candidates by people is comparatively low. This in turn causes low morale to contest elections, and hence even poorer representation in future. Hence, our society has to make an effort to bridge this gap. Moreover, women who get elected should look after this issue.

• The proposed reservation may solve this issue in numbers, but it shall not change the situation as a whole. The elected women representing should be also capable enough to hold their seat on their own. They should have their representation from within themselves and justify it. Hence these figures are implying need for women empowerment physically, sociologically and psychologically too.

NOTE:

-      2014 General elections also held a exclusive place, because for the first time trans-genders were separately accounted in these elections. Not only their voted were acknowledged as a separate category, but also they could contest election. There was quest for representation in Trans-Genders too in 2014.

-      Out of 8251 contestants who stood for 2014 elections, 5 were trans-genders. 

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