With just 14.3% women elected to the Lok Sabha, India ranks 142 out of 193 countries in representation of women according to Inter-Parliamentary Union’s latest report. Among our neighbors, India falls behind Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. After the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment, the representation of women in our local bodies increased from a mere 3-4% to an impressive 44.3%. To similarly increase the number of women in our legislative bodies, we need to enact a law that mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabhas, and Vidhan Parishads.

The historic Women's Reservation Bill which mandates 1/3 seats for women in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies on a rotational basis was first introduced in 1996 and had to be reintroduced numerous times. In 2010, the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha and sent to the Lok Sabha. The passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha was made possible after immense struggle by women MPs across parties. However, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in 2014 (discussed thoroughly at the recently held SheRunsGovernment dialogues). Now, we are back to square one.

In the light of this sad reality, a Bill for women's reservation needs to be introduced again in the Parliament. Femme First Foundation had recently written to all the Members of both Houses - the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - requesting the same. We now call on you again publicly, with the support of the citizens, to kindly introduce a Women’s Reservation Bill that reserves 1/3 seats for women in all legislative bodies in addition to the provisions highlighted in the Women's Reservation Bill [The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, 2008].

The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed to the world the efficacy of women leaders with countries like New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan, Finland, Germany, and Iceland performing remarkably well in controlling this unprecedented crisis. With its massive women population, India has a huge reservoir of potential which, if unleashed, will take the country much ahead.

Without a gender quota, women representation will continue to remain marginal causing a massive deficit in our democracy. A legislated quota is the surest way of immediately achieving at least 33% representation. Indian democracy is in dire need of an exponential rise in representation of women in our legislative bodies. Femme First Foundation requests you to stand with the women of our country and help in paving the way for our political empowerment.