Now Reading: Women make up less than 10% of MLAs in 20 States, UTs
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Women make up less than 10% of MLAs in 20 States, UTs
Women constitute less than 10% of sitting legislators in 20 States and Union Territories, The Hindu reports. Tripura is the only State where women reach 15% of MLAs. Their share is 8.2%…
The Story in Brief
Women constitute less than 10% of sitting legislators in 20 States and Union Territories, The Hindu reports. Tripura is the only State where women reach 15% of MLAs. Their share is 8.2% in Gujarat, 8.3% in Maharashtra, 8% in Andhra Pradesh, 7.9% in Kerala, 5.1% in Tamil Nadu, 5% in Telangana and 4.5% in Karnataka. Nagaland elected its first two women MLAs in 2023, while Mizoram has had none in its past seven Assemblies.
The 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam proposes reserving a third of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women. The Hindu says implementation depends on delimitation after a Census, making 2029 the earliest possible start. Women currently hold 82 Lok Sabha seats, or 15%. Deccan Herald warns that male relatives often act as proxies for elected women in local bodies, and urges enforcement against impersonation under BNS Section 204.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy claim that women’s electoral influence already means political power is not supported by the numbers. Nor should every woman representative be dismissed as a male proxy. The harder issue is whether parties will nominate women beyond reserved seats and whether officials will protect their authority after election. The first measurable test is simple: how many women actually enter legislatures after implementation, and how many can exercise their office independently?
Sources (2): thehindu.com, deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
