In India, a historic constitutional reform, the result of a legislative battle that began more than twenty years ago, is on the verge of success. This delights women, marginalized in politics in this patriarchal country, even if the date of entry into force of this reform has not yet been set.
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From our correspondent in India, Sébastien Farcis
India is one of the most unequal democracies for women in politics: they represent only 15% of deputies in the federal lower house, and 9% in regional assemblies.
A reflection of India’s patriarchal mentality, as exemplified by Shaguna Kanwar, a young politician from Uttar Pradesh in northern India. “ During the last campaign, I was the only woman among more than 300 men. They say women can’t keep up with the intense pace and stay out late at night when men drink alcohol. Women are therefore restricted to offering flowers to leaders or serving tea. “, she laments.
Thanks to this constitutional reform, this number of female deputies will have to rise to a minimum of 33%, which delights this thirty-year-old: “ They will be forced to find good candidates now, and for an educated and experienced woman like me, this creates new opportunities “.
However, this quota will only apply after the results of the next census and electoral division, i.e. in only ten or fifteen years. A delay which seems unnecessary and denounced by the opposition.
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