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India signals more justice for women
Analysis of India’s Upper House decision to introduce a quota for female representatives in parliament. By Prof. Subhoranjan Dasgupta, local coordinator of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Kolkata. Das indische Oberhaus hat entschieden, eine Frauenquote im Parlament einzuführen. Ein Bericht in englisch von Prof. Subhoranjan Dasgupta, Koordinator der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung in Kalkutta.
India has taken a decisive as well as historic step to enhance women with more power. This remarkable legislative action will serve as a light-tower in many countries of the world. In India’s Parliament (Lok Sabha), the number of women members at present is only 11% of the total strength. This figure is lower than the parliamentary representation of women in the neighboring countries. In Nepal the percentage works out to 33%, in Afghanistan 27%, in Pakistan 22% and in Bangladesh 19%. The «Women’s Reservation Bill» which had been hanging fire for the last 14 years and which when translated into law will ensure 33% seats for women in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the state assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on March 9, 2010. But not before the house witnessed cruel scenes of protest against the Bill. (...)
