Women And Youth In State Assemblies
Source : Indian Express
GS I : Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies 

Why in News ?

After the election in three states the share of women MLAs is unchanged in West Bengal, has grown slightly in Kerala, and fallen in Tamil Nadu.

Key Facts

• Women Representation
  • Among the three new state Assemblies being analysed here, only Kerala recorded a marginal increase in seats for women from 8 to 11.
  • Women’s representation in West Bengal remained unchanged with 40 seats (41 in 2016).
  • Tamil Nadu, notably, recorded a decline from 21 seats to 12.
  • In the 243-member Bihar legislature the number of women MLAs are with 28 women elected in 2015 and 26 in 2020.
  • In Maharashtra, 24 women were elected to the assembly in 2019 as against 20 in 2014.
• Youth Representation
  • The number of young MLAs in the 25-40 age group has risen to 14%, Except in West Bengal.
  • The number in Kerala and Tamil Nadu stands at 9% and 6%.
  • Fifteen of its incoming MLAs are 70 and above in Tamil Nadu.
  • West Bengal has more young MLAs than earlier while the other two Assemblies have less than 10% MLAs under 40.
• Representation of Political Parties
  • West Bengal Assembly with 294 seats will have fewer political parties than last time with its legislators representing 3 parties compared to 8 in 2016.
  •  In Tamil Nadu out of 234 seats the number of parties represented in the Assembly has doubled from 4 in 2016 to 8.
  • The newly elected Kerala legislature with 140 seats, will have MLAs from 16 different parties.

Challenges for Women Participation

• Discrimination
  • Discriminatory attitudes towards women as leaders.
  • Women also lack leadership experience as they are burdened with household duties.
• Illiteracy
  • India had a  largest illiterate populations. United Nations reported 25 adults in India are illiterate.
  • This illiteracy limits the ability of women to understand the political system and issues.
• Social Norms
  • Socio-economic conditions, such as poverty and illiteracy, prevent the entrance of women into running for public office
  • There is little public space for them as men have dominated the political arena for many years in India.
• Measures Taken
  • Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions
  • Constitution of India attempts to remove gender inequalities by banning discrimination based on sex.
  • Women’s Reservation Bill 2008

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