Table of Contents
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.
- Number of members aged 70 and above are increasing.
- 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