Representation of Different Groups in Parliament

Representation of Different Groups in Parliament

Women

  • In 17th Lok Sabha , 78 MPs ie 14.6 % of total MPs were women & figure in Rajya Sabha was 12.7%.
  • The increase in women representation is relatively small
  • Even profile of women MPs reveals a distinctive bend towards Middle Class Professionals or Political Families with little/no links with women’s movements.

Why we need women in Politics ?

  • To achieve the goal of Equality and Justice + India has signed CEDAW which includes discrimination in political field.
  • Studies have shown that women are better decision makers , more empathetic towards weaker sections etc
  • To represent needs of women in better way and make gender sensitive laws and policies

What can be done to improve their numbers ?

  • 33% Reservation in Lok Sabha seats (such step in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have shown good results)
  • Start schemes to inculcate leadership qualities in women. Like Nai Roshani scheme for Minority women.
  • Improve access to education to work

OBCs

  • Post Mandal => 1980-90s => Powerful backward class movement led to the rise of regional parties like SP , RJD etc.
  • Significant increase in representation of OBC MPs within Parliament

Religious Minorities

  • Muslims remained very less represented

Age Structure

  • Lok Sabha is getting older.
    1. Number of members aged 70 and above are increasing.
    2. MPs in the age group of 25 to 40 have declined from 26% to 13% from 1st to 16th Lok Sabha
  • Irony is India has young population in the world represented by aged in the parliament

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