WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT

WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT By: Anumita Bajpai

Structure:Composed of 29 states and 7 union territories Union, State and Local government3 Branches LegislativeLok SabhaRaj SabhaJudicialSupreme Courts, High Courts & District CourtsExecutivePrime Minister PresidentLegislative:Raj Sabha: (Upper House) 245 seatsMembers selected by President Elected by State legislaturesLok Sabha: (Lower House) 545 seats Elected by the people from all states Seats given by population

Executive Branch:Prime Minister: Narendra ModiChief of government, Chief advisor to president Leader of executive branch, head of council of ministersLeader of the majority partyAPPOINTED by the president

President: Pranab MukherjiAll constitutional powers Appointments of cabinet and judiciary members Commander in chief of Armed forcesRELIES on prime minister for aid and advice

Minorities in Parliament Women in India: 49.5 %Rajya Sabha: (12%)31 women Lok Sabha: 66 women (12%)131 scheduled castes

Sushma Swaraj, Lok SabhaPratibha PatilFirst woman President of India (12th president)Started at the age of 27, elected to Rajya Sabha, then to Lok Sabha and eventually became the first woman governor of Rajasthan (24th governor).Granted 35 death sentences during presidency (more than any other president)

Indira GandhiThe only woman to be prime minister. Served as the 4th prime minister and held the position the longest.Integral in the foundation and formation of the Indian Congress Party. Voted the greatest prime minister and the Woman of the millenniumAssassinated in 1984

Sonia GandhiItalian Born, married Rajiv Gandhi (son of Indira Gandhi)President of the Indian Congress Party after assassination of Rajiv Gandhi Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance of Lok Sabha since 2004

Governmental Participation of Women

Panchayati Raj

Local Governments:South Asian government system:Pakistan, Bangladesh & IndiaTheory: Elder members of the community settle disputes among villagers in a calm and objective demeanor. Some communities have also seen abuse of power in order to uphold traditions over modernity. (Khap Panchanyat)Women Involvement:The Union Cabinet of India approved 50% reservation for women in PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions)2009: Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Himmanchal Pradesh2011: Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharastra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tripura

Women Involvement Cont.Women Involvement has led to better education, better sanitation and has led to a redefining of leadership. Problems that were previously ignored by the patriarchy are being addressed: health, malnutrition, domestic violence and dowry abuse.