Women's Political Participation in India

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The issue of women's empowerment has acquired a tremendous significance throughout the world in the modern period, especially during the last four decades or so. It is gathering momentum or increasing each day. There are numerous factors for its development, such as, the spread of liberal ideology, the collapse of totalitarianism, the growth of technology, the emergence of the new concept of human rights, the peoples concern for borderless world, and the like. Indeed, the women's empowerment has, today, become a fashionable and buzz word around the four corners of the globe.

In the context of our country, the Indian Constitution which was framed and enacted in the middle of the 20th century is, in fact, a document of utmost significance so far as women's empowerment is concerned. Based on the principles of liberalism, democracy and secularism, the Constitution aims to demolish all sorts of inequalities and exploitative tendencies that often plague the society and jeopardize women's empowerment. It is designed to usher in a new social revolution and to create a new social order rooted in the principles of social justice, gender equality and gender justice.

The participation of women in politics and decision-making processes is essential for the sustainable development of a country, India being no exception. Development without the participation of women is a weak and a fragile one. Any development that neglects women's involvement in it is fractured and frail; it can be easily damaged or broken. Today, every country is under the impact of globalization, privatization and liberalization, and the new issues and challenges that have developed or developing make it necessary that women must participate actively in order to build up a new society. The new society of the 21st century can become a reality if the participation of women in political and decision-making processes is activated. This is a daunting task. The new issues that have emerged, such as, environment, poverty, preservation of natural resources, responsibility for waste and changing of traditional relationship require a new basis of gender equality and gender partnership. As such, unless women are recognized as active and equal participants in politics, decision-making, ecosystem management and control of environmental degradation, no sustainable development is possible and the whole development process would be clogged.

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