In 2010, the Women’s Reservation Bill, that sought to reserve 33% seats for women in the Union Parliament, was reintroduced in the Union Parliament. The nation waited with baited breath as the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha and transferred to the Lok Sabha. The bill was a ray of hope for several women’s movements that had been demanding more representation of women. However, the Bill was not passed in the Lok Sabha and still continues to be suspended in indecisiveness. India is a country that has seen brave female rulers like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Raziya Sultan and Rani Chenamma and is also home to strong political leaders like the first female president Pratibha Patil First Woman speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar and first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Women constitute 48% of India’s population. Political participation and representation of women in India has increased significantly. The current Union parliament has the highest rate female MPs ever – 14% in the Lok Sabah and 11% in the Rajya Sabha. The steady increase is encouraging, but not enough. In the 2019 assembly elections, only 10% candidiates were women.With the exception of a few, most women leaders already have a political legacy that backs them while women from ordinary backgrounds remain in the margins. This brings us to a question of pertinent importance. Why, despite being almost half of the population, are women not active participants in politics? What can be done to change it? Studies claim that improving the general social standing of women households and more awareness of politics and political institutions will improve political participation of women. Legal measure like reservation of seats for women in local self governments are definitely catalysts to change. However, social change is a requisite that will determine the success of legal provisions.
She Leads is a unique leadership program that prepares women to take a step into and/or further in politics. It is a certificate course on political empowerment that aims to encourage more women into politics. She Leads is an initiative of Stree Shakti – The Parallel Force, a platform for the convergence of grass root efforts, scientific research, creative ideas, enterprise and a collective voice for women seeking equality and justice. Currently, over 50 women from 13 Indian states have been trained under this initiative. The first part of the training which started on 24th February 2021, had esteemed panel of speakers and experts which included Ms Margaret Alva, Senior Politician and Ex-Governor of Uttrakhand; Dr Heena Gavit, Hon’ble MP, Lok Sabha and Mr Ghanshyam Tiwari, Spokesperson Samajwadi Party, and Mr M V Rajeev Gowda, Ex MP, INC. The session that started on 24 February 2021 is scheduled to culminate on 8th March.
“The next step will be to start certificate courses for young women in colleges and universities for them to consider politics as a career option. Delhi-based Miranda House is the first college to begin this certificate programme. The time has come for women to claim their political space. I hope women will aspire and lead the country” Ms. Rekha Mody, the founder of Stree Shakti was quoted as saying.
Rekha Mody is a social worker and activist committed to Women Empowerment. Ms.Mody is currently is the President of GCF WIN. She believes that women will bring change in the 21st century. It is through initiatives like She-Leads that Indian politics can hope to have a better future.
The first batch of training under She-Leads, conducted with the support of the Chevening Alumni Project Fund (CAPF), and in collaboration with the Indian School of Democracy ,NETRI and HER-World India is culminating at 3 pm on 8th March at India International Centre, New Delhi.
