They have made their mark
In the 2017 polls, there were more women voters than men. Now give them their due
No matter which party comes out triumphant in this round of assembly elections, there is some good news for those who have the appetite to look beyond the numbers: Data being compiled by the Election Commission show that more women than men came out to vote in the states that went to the polls. In the country’s most populous states, Uttar Pradesh, which is also arguably one of the most patriarchal, 63.26% of woman voters cast their votes in the seven-phase assembly election that concluded on Wednesday. While last time around women outnumbered men, in 2007, when the state elected Mayawati, men had outnumbered women in the polling percentage at 49.35 to 41.92. This year, more women turned out to vote in Manipur (the final data is not out but initial numbers show that there has been a spike of about 6% in women casting their vote); Goa (83.67 versus 78.12%), Punjab (78.15 versus 76.73%) and Uttarakhand (69.34 versus 62. 28).
This spurt in women’s participation in the political process is positive news and can be attributed to rising education levels as also the poll panel’s hard work to impress upon the people that voting is a right that they must exercise without fail. One cannot also deny that political parties did their bit, at least in UP, to ensure that women come out and vote. While the BJP promised controversial anti-Romeo squads in UP to save girls from the bane of eve teasing, the ruling Samajwadi Party offered free cycles for school-going girls, set up a dedicated helpline and introduced rebate in state public transport for women. The BSP also promised better safety for women through an improved law and order system. In Punjab too safety of women was a key election issue. This increase in political participation has been possible due to some attendant developments that have been happening for a few years now: Increased access to information and communication, fall in birth and fertility rates and increase in female life expectancy.
With large number of women showing their faith in the democratic process, the onus will be on the political parties to respond positively to demands for better political representation, improved safety, livelihood and health. It will also hopefully push them to apply a gender perspective to policymaking. This is of critical importance because public policy has the capacity to either perpetuate or eliminate discrimination and gender inequality.