What women voters want

Next government must bring in far-sighted policy changes for gender equity

WOMEN VOTERS HAVE emerged as important stakeholders for political parties. In the 2019 general elections, the female voter turnout surpassed male participation. The Election Commission of India estimates that around 47 crore women will vote in the forthcoming elections. The notion that women vote as per the directions of the male head of the household is losing ground. Studies have shown that women are now making conscious choices when voting. Naturally, political parties are aware of the need to consolidate support amongst women. Promises are being made to fulfil the growing aspirations of women voters. But it is yet to be steeped in ground realities.

As India heads towards the general elections, I spent the last few weeks speaking to women and LGBTQ+ persons to encapsulate their expectations from the next government in a gender manifesto. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, India currently ranks 127th out of 146 countries on gender parity. Strides, some small and some massive, have been made. However, it is not enough. The Preamble to the Constitution commits to justice, liberty, and equality for all citizens. More than half of India’s population, especially from marginalised communities, still struggles to access these basic guarantees. Throughout the consultative process for the gender manifesto, it became clear that the women of India demand nothing short of equity and a dignified life.

Studies show that the majority of the population from the historically criminalised Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT-DNT), especially women, do not have government identification papers. Similarly, trans persons go through insurmountable challenges to update paperwork that still carry their “dead names” (birth names that are no longer in use after gender transition). Their right to an identity has been denied for a long time. In 2024, the right to exist must not be a struggle for any person. It behoves our political parties to adopt a gender agenda that recognises the hopes and ambitions of women and LGBTQ+ persons from all walks of life. Here are some recommendations for this agenda:

While the Constitution guarantees equality, personal rights fall short when viewed from a gendered lens. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens do not have the fundamental right to marry. We cannot claim equality if LGBTQ+ persons are denied the right to choose their partners. Parliament must legislate as soon as possible.

Everyday, women face grave safety challenges, some of which begin at home. It is unconscionable that marital rape exists as an exception in the penal code. The next government must do away with the law and adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards genderbased violence. Several women have spoken to me about their fear of deep fakes and online abuse. The current law and order machinery is ill-equipped to deal with the growing menace and must be reformed to ensure women feel secure both online and offline.

To create social inclusion, it is important to unlearn gender norms. Children adopt patriarchal practices due to gender socialisation in their surroundings. There is an urgent need to review and reframe school textbooks to remove gender stereotypes. Additionally, gender sensitisation workshops from an intersectional lens should be integrated into school curricula. Next, we must recognise that childcare is a shared responsibility between parents and paid paternity leave should be made mandatory in all formal organisations. To set a precedent, creches should also be set up in all government offices to enable more working parents, irrespective of gender, to participate in childcare.

Post-covid, there has been a greater emphasis on the right to health. Studies have found that women do not prioritise their health. Right to health should be considered crucial and policies drafted from a gendered lens. In the last Union budget, the government announced a vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer. It must provide free screening for breast and cervical cancer. Further, the financial support to pregnant women and lactating mothers under the National Food Security Act 2013 must be increased to account for inflation.

A significant challenge for the next government is to enable women’s economic prosperity. It must earmark specific funds to be allocated to women-led start-ups. Nonrecognition of women farmers and low female labour force participation are two major pain points for women. The next government must enact the Women Farmers’ Entitlements Bill, 2011. It must also implement economic policies, especially in the manufacturing sector, that promote women’s participation in the labour force.

One way could be granting tax rebates to organisations that employ more than 20 per cent women in their workforce. Since the government is one of the biggest employers, it must fill all the vacant positions, estimated at 30 lakhs, at the earliest and women’s reservation must be extended to these jobs.

Last year was momentous for women’s political rights in India. After more than three decades of activism, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed. It signifies that historic push towards gender equity can be made if there is a serious will of the government. However, that the law is not in application leaves us all disappointed. The next government must ensure that women’s reservation is implemented as soon as possible. It cannot be subject to completion of a Census. Additionally, representation is an ideal that must be reflected in both the Upper and Lower Houses. Parliament must legislate on provisions for reservations for underrepresented communities in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils.

India will take more than a century to achieve gender parity. Past feminist movements have taught us to celebrate the minor victories while continuing to persevere in our pursuit of major goals. The aforementioned recommendations are crucial, farsighted and, most importantly, attainable for the next government within its tenure. All we need is the unequivocal will to break new ground to shape a gender-equal world.

The writer is founder, Femme First Foundation