UPSC Alert: Akali Dal Demands Women Reservation Bill Implementation

09 Aug UPSC Alert: Akali Dal Demands Women Reservation Bill Implementation

Women’s Reservation BillDelimitation processElectoral reformsGender parity

✎ The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has publicly endorsed the Women’s Reservation Bill and the delimitation process, demanding their immediate implementation.

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper II — Polity and Governance: Constitutional Provisions, Electoral Reforms, and Representation of Women  |  GS Paper II — Social Justice: Reservation Policies and Gender Equality  |  GS Paper II — Federalism: Centre-State Relations in Legislative and Administrative Matters
• Prelims: 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, Delimitation Commission, Article 334A, Article 82, Article 170, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Sikh Gurus’ teachings on gender equality, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC)
• Essay: Gender Equality as a Pillar of Inclusive Governance, Balancing Representation and Efficiency in Electoral Systems

Why is this in the news?

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has publicly endorsed the Women’s Reservation Bill and the delimitation process, demanding their immediate implementation. This endorsement, articulated by senior SAD leader Gulzar Singh Ranike and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, follows a high-level meeting with the Prime Minister and reflects a growing political consensus on electoral reforms. The SAD’s stance aligns with constitutional provisions and broader societal demands for gender parity in governance, while also addressing concerns about equitable representation across states. This development is significant as it bridges ideological divides and underscores the urgency of legislative action on long-pending reforms.

Background

• The Women’s Reservation Bill, originally introduced in 1996, seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women, including seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Delimitation refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies to reflect changes in population distribution, as mandated by the Constitution under Article 82.
• The delimitation process is overseen by the Delimitation Commission, a statutory body constituted under the Delimitation Act, 2002. The Commission’s recommendations are binding on the Government of India.
• The SAD, a regional party with strong Sikh ethos, has historically advocated for gender equality, citing the teachings of Sikh Gurus, who emphasized the dignity and rights of women in Sikhism.

What are the Women’s Reservation Bill and Delimitation Process?

• **Women’s Reservation Bill**: The Bill proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women. This includes sub-reservation for women belonging to SCs and STs, ensuring intersectional representation. The Bill is rooted in the principle of gender justice and aims to address the underrepresentation of women in legislative bodies, which currently stands at approximately 15% in the Lok Sabha.
• The Bill’s implementation is contingent on the completion of the delimitation process, as the number of reserved seats must be determined based on the updated electoral rolls and constituency boundaries.
• The Bill is expected to enhance women’s participation in policymaking, foster inclusive governance, and set a precedent for other forms of affirmative action in public life.
• The Bill has faced political and ideological resistance over the years, with debates centered on its feasibility, potential dilution of meritocracy, and the need for broader societal change to achieve gender parity.

Key Features

Why it Matters

Political

• Strengthens democratic representation by enhancing women’s participation in legislative bodies, addressing gender imbalance in governance.
• Demonstrates cross-party consensus on women-centric reforms, reducing partisan resistance to progressive legislation.
• Reinforces SAD’s ideological alignment with constitutional values of equality, as articulated in Sikh teachings.

Constitutional

• Aligns with the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 39A) and Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) to promote gender justice.
• Operationalises Article 243D (reservation for women in Panchayats) and Article 243T (reservation in Municipalities) at the State Assembly level.

Administrative

• Expedites delimitation to ensure fair and transparent electoral reforms, preventing delays in reservation implementation.
• Encourages states to adopt model practices, such as SGPC’s internal reservation policies, for replication in governance.

Challenges

1. Implementation Delay

• The Bill, passed in 2023, awaits notification of the Census 2021 and delimitation, which has been deferred due to political and logistical constraints.
• Lack of synchronised timelines between the Centre and States may result in staggered or partial implementation.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Constitutional Amendments

2. State-Level Opposition

• Regional parties or states may resist delimitation or reservation if perceived as detrimental to local political interests.
• Punjab’s demographic complexities (e.g., Sikh majority) could amplify concerns over equitable representation.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Federalism

3. Gender Stereotypes

• Deep-rooted societal biases may undermine the effectiveness of reservation, reducing women’s agency in political decision-making.
• Need for concurrent measures like capacity-building programmes to empower women candidates.

UPSC Link: GS-I: Social Empowerment

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Way Forward

• Constitute a high-powered committee comprising representatives from the Centre, States, and civil society to finalise delimitation timelines.
• Launch nationwide awareness campaigns to sensitise stakeholders on the Bill’s objectives and address misconceptions.
• Allocate dedicated funds in the Union Budget for capacity-building programmes targeting women aspirants and political parties.
• Encourage States to adopt model codes of conduct for transparent and inclusive delimitation processes.
• Monitor implementation through a parliamentary standing committee to ensure accountability and timely progress.
• Integrate reservation policies with existing schemes like the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative to amplify impact.
• Conduct periodic reviews to assess the Bill’s socio-political outcomes and propose mid-course corrections if necessary.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023:
1. The Bill seeks to reserve one-third of the seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
2. The reservation will be implemented immediately after the Bill is passed by Parliament.
3. The Bill provides for sub-reservation for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
4. The reservation will be operational for 15 years from the date of commencement.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All

Answer: Only three — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect as the reservation will be implemented post the delimitation process. Statement 4 is incorrect as the reservation is for 15 years from the date of commencement of the Act, not from the date of passing.

Q2. Assertion (A): The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, is constitutionally valid as it falls under the ambit of Articles 15(3) and 16(4) of the Constitution.
Reason (R): Articles 15(3) and 16(4) empower the State to make special provisions for women and socially and educationally backward classes.

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true, but R is false.
4. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. — Both the Assertion and Reason are correct. The Women’s Reservation Bill derives its constitutional validity from Articles 15(3) and 16(4), which empower the State to make special provisions for women.

Q3. Match the following provisions of the Constitution with their respective Articles:

Column I (Provision)
A. Reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies
B. Special provisions for women in educational and economic spheres
C. Reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities
D. Empowerment of the Parliament to make laws for the implementation of reservation

Column II (Article)
1. Article 243D
2. Article 15(3)
3. Article 330A
4. Article 334A

Choose the correct match:

1. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
2. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
3. A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
4. A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3

Answer: A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 — The correct matches are: A-3 (Article 330A), B-2 (Article 15(3)), C-1 (Article 243D), and D-4 (Article 334A).

Mains Practice Question

✍ The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, seeks to operationalise gender parity in India’s legislative bodies through constitutional amendment. Critically examine the constitutional, political, and socio-economic dimensions of this Bill. Also, analyse the role of political parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in shaping the discourse on women’s reservation, with reference to Punjab. (15 Marks)

Approach: Constitutional Dimensions (5 marks): – Article 330A: Reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. – Article 334A: Duration of reservation (15 years). – Article 15(3) and 16(4): Empowering provisions for special provisions for women. – Delimitation process: Role of Delimitation Commission and its constitutional basis (Article 82 and 170). – Legal challenges: Potential challenges under Article 14 (equality) and Article 21 (right to representation). Political Dimensions (5 marks): – Gender parity in governance: Arguments for and against reservation (meritocracy vs. social justice). – Role of political parties: SAD’s support, BJP-SAD coalition dynamics, and regional political considerations. – Implementation challenges: Delays in delimitation, state autonomy, and federal concerns. – Women’s empowerment: Impact on political participation and leadership in Punjab. Socio-Economic Dimensions (3 marks): – Women’s representation in Punjab: Current status and gaps. – Impact on governance: Improved policy outcomes and accountability. – Socio-cultural factors: Sikh Gurus’ teachings on gender equality (e.g., Guru Nanak’s emphasis on equality). Critical Analysis and Way Forward (2 marks): – Evaluate the Bill’s potential to address gender imbalances in politics. – Suggest measures for effective implementation (e.g., capacity-building, awareness campaigns).

Source: amarujala.com

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