Women in Politics

Women not only in India but also all over the world have been regarded occupying inferior position to men. Biological distinction between the male and female sex has been used over the times by different societies for assigning her duties and jobs depending on situation. Despite liberty and equal opportunity granted to women in terms of participation and contest of elections, women’s involvement in elected decision making bodies have hanged about only near to the ground but in several occasions they are deprived from it. For this, a proposal was taken in 1988 for reservation of seats for women in local self-government bodies. Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth constitutional amendments passed in 1992 have provided for 33 per cent reservation of seats at various levels of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipalities. It is now under consideration for Parliament and State Legislatures. All most all major political parties in India in their political manifestoes have promised 30 per cent reservations for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. However, the situation largely remains far from satisfactory. Presently, lawfully and constitutionally, women in India are provided a distinctive position of equality with men. However, in reality only a small section of educated women in urban and dominated caste women in rural areas have been benefited from the claimed legislative and developmental actions. On the other hand gender bias in society not only continues but also in some ways has taken a worse form in the shape of violence and crimes against women. The question of political status of Indian women remains serious and deserves attention of the society. Gender inequality is undemocratic, immoral and illegal. The dream of gender equality can be turned up into reality when women make use of the full display of political weapons accessible to them to attain it. Political activity is massively essential to the struggle for women’s liberation. The twenty-first century have become significant both in terms of women studies and women’s development and movements. In a bid to make women more vigorous and dynamic in political affairs, an attempt has been made in this volume by the way of elaborate discussion. This volume contains 10 articles on different aspects of political empowerment of Indian women. The donors of this volume have tried their level best to be purposeful. They have also tried to provide update facts and the latest developments in their subjects of study.