Q.31 “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self- government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment. GS-II: POLITY (UPSC CSE 2019) (250 Words/15 Marks)

Answer:

THE INTRODUCTION:

73rd and 74th Amendments provide one-third reservation to women in local self-government institutions. It was intended to challenge the entrenched patriarchal norms in Indian politics. However, it has only increased women’s numerical representation.

THE BODY:

TOKEN REPRESENTATION:

• • Due to the phenomenon of “Sarpanch Pati,” where the husbands or male relatives of elected women representatives wield the actual power.
  • The persistence of the “3B syndrome”—where only beti (daughter), bahu (daughter- in-law), or biwi (wife) of male politicians get tickets. There is a lack of political will to empower women representatives genuinely.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS:

• • Economic dependence on male family members limits women’s ability to engage fully in political activities. Women often lack access to the financial resources necessary for campaigning and governance. Women’s effectiveness is curtailed without a proper understanding of governance and legal procedures.

KNOWLEDGE AND DIGITAL DIVIDE:

• • Higher illiteracy rates among rural women hinder their ability to participate effectively. As per Census 2011, the female literacy rate in rural India was 58.8%, compared to 77.15% for males.
  • Low digital literacy and access to technology further hamper women representatives’ ability to perform administrative functions efficiently.

SOCIO-CULTURAL BARRIERS:

• • Women are often expected to focus on “soft” issues like health and education, while men dominate discussions on infrastructure and Women struggle to balance their official duties with domestic responsibilities due to the burden of household chores, childcare, and resistance from spouses or families to their public roles.
  • The intersectionality of gender with caste and class further complicates women’s empowerment. It has failed to address intersectional challenges faced by women from marginalized communities.

POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES:

• • Rotation of reserved seats, preventing women from building on their experience across terms. The two-child norm in some states disproportionately affects women, who often have little say in family planning decisions.
  • Most newly elected women lack political experience and struggle to exercise their responsibilities independently. Women leaders often struggle to interact with block/district officials and police, relying on male relatives as intermediaries. Administrative roles like panchayat secretary continue to be dominated by men.

THE CONCLUSION:

Reservation alone is insufficient. It must be complemented with education, economic empowerment, and social reforms. Sustainable impact requires continuous training and support systems. Provide for the resources and infrastructure to facilitate women’s active participation.