Women’s Legislative Quota Passes Upper House of India
March 15, 2010
By: Paul Larson

The upper house of India’s Parliament has almost unanimously approved a measure that would reserve one third of parliamentary seats for women, according to the New York Times.

The vote tallied 186 to 1 in favor of the measure, according to the Christian Science Monitor.  It will soon face the lower house or Parliament, where it is expected to narrowly pass.  It must then be approved by at least half of India’s state legislatures.  To complete this process, though largely ceremonial, the Indian President must sign the constitutional amendment into law, according to the New York Times. 
Opponents charge that the bill will actually hurt representation in India.  Many people fear that influential politicians will use their daughters or wives to serve as proxy votes.  That would disproportionately “favor wealthy upper-caste women at the expense of the lower castes and Muslims,” according to the New York Times.

Muslims are the main group opposed to the bill, according to the New York Times.  One former parliamentarian projected that Muslim representation would be cut in half if the measure passed.  Some Muslim groups have proposed a “quota within a quota” compromise to ensure Muslim representation.  However, this offer has been turned down by lawmakers.
Other critics claim that the move is not necessary to promote women in Indian politics.  The nation’s leaders have included powerful women like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. 

Sources:

BBC News - Voices: India's quota for women in parliament

Christian Science Monitor - Women reservation bill: India sets quota for female lawmakers

New York Times - Uproar in India Over Female Lawmaker Quota

www.ccd21.org