In which one of the following organ of india are women taking advantage of reservation

General
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in which one of the following organ of india are women taking advantage of reservation

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In which one of the following organs of India are women taking advantage of reservation?

Answer: Women in India are taking advantage of reservations primarily in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), which include gram panchayats, panchayat samitis, and zilla parishads under the provisions of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. These amendments mandate a reservation of at least 33% of seats (later increased to 50% in many states) for women in local governance bodies.

Let’s explore this in detail:

1. Reservation for Women in Local Governance (Panchayati Raj System)

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced in India, ensures that a significant proportion of the seats at the local government level (Panchayati Raj Institutions) are reserved for women. Here’s how:

  • Gram Panchayats (Village-level): A minimum of 33% of seats for elected representatives, as well as chairpersons at all levels of local panchayat systems, are reserved for women.
  • Municipalities (Urban Local Bodies): Similar provisions are made for municipalities, which fall under the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
  • State-Level Variations: Many Indian states have gone beyond the 33% quota and now reserve 50% of seats for women in these bodies. Examples include states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Kerala.

This constitutional mandate has been instrumental in creating opportunities for Indian women to actively participate in politics and decision-making at the grassroots level.

2. Reservation for Women in Legislatures

While local-level governance has constitutional reservations for women, parliamentary and state legislatures do not yet have a nationwide reservation policy for women.

Women’s Reservation Bill (Pending):

The Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill, seeks to reserve 33% seats in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and State Legislative Assemblies for women. Although introduced in 1996 and passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it has not been enacted yet due to political differences.

3. Judiciary and Civil Services

Unlike the Panchayati Raj Institutions, judiciary and civil services in India do not have mandatory seat reservations exclusively for women. However, there have been administrative measures in some states to encourage more representation of women.

  • Recruitment Policies: Many states have introduced horizontal reservations for women in civil services and other government jobs. For example:
    • Bihar reserves 35% of government jobs for women.
    • Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and other states have introduced similar horizontal reservations.

4. Political and Social Impact

Women’s reservation has led to significant benefits in the political and social landscape:

  1. Increased Participation: The inclusion of women in Panchayati Raj institutions has empowered millions of women and brought diverse perspectives to governance.
  2. Leadership and Role Models: Women sarpanchs (village heads) and elected representatives have inspired other women to step into leadership roles.
  3. Breaking Stereotypes: Reservations have challenged patriarchal norms and given women a platform to address critical issues concerning health, education, sanitation, and women’s rights.
  4. Improved Governance: Several studies indicate that villages led by women leaders tend to prioritize social welfare, public health, and infrastructure projects more effectively.

5. Horizontal Reservation for Women in Other Fields

In addition to political governance, women are benefiting from horizontal reservations across different sectors:

  • Education: Many Indian states and institutions (e.g., IITs) have introduced supernumerary seats for women to balance gender representation in higher education.
  • Employment: There are policies granting horizontal reservation for women in government and public-sector jobs, as mentioned above, in various state employment quotas.

Key Example: The Success Story of Panchayati Raj Reservations

Since women’s reservation was introduced in the Panchayati Raj system in 1993:

  • Over 1.3 million elected women representatives (EWRs) serve in local bodies, making India one of the largest contributors to women’s political participation globally.
  • Women leaders such as Chhavi Rajawat (Sarpanch of Soda village), who brought innovation and development to her rural constituency, showcase the transformative role women can play in governance.

Conclusion

Currently, Panchayati Raj Institutions remain the primary organ of governance where women are taking direct advantage of reservation. While discussions on extending reservation to other parts of governance, such as Parliament and State Assemblies, are ongoing, the local-level reservations have created remarkable changes in the status and participation of women in India.

If you need more details or want to expand on this topic, feel free to ask! :blush: @genom1