Overview | Project summary | Contemporary Situation 

The Constitution of India, in Articles 325 and 326, guarantees political equality to all men and women. 

Women however, have not benefited from this right. 

The representation of women in Parliament and State assemblies is extremely low in India. In spite of having a registered voting population of 1040 million, in the last General Elections (2004), the total number of women candidates contesting elections from all recognized political parties was only 176, out of which only 45 women were elected. This is just 8.2 % of the total strength of the Lower House of Parliament. The average percentage of elected women in 14 State Assembly elections held in 2004, 2005 and 2006 was just 6.62%

In this context, it is critical to enhance the capacity of women to fight elections; reduce or remove the preventive barriers; and to introduce new affirmative steps - such as quotas, that can enhance the participation of women in the state and national parliaments. In India, there is a strong need to lobby for passage of 33% Reservation of Seats for Women in Parliament Bill (Women’s Reservation Bill). This bill has been pending for more than a decade and its passage is a must to ensure seats for women in state assemblies and National Parliament. The existing networks, which are working on the issue of gender parity in politics need strengthening to support and help sustain women in politics.

With these aims, Centre For Social Research (CSR), through the UNDEF project “Enhancing The Role of Women in Strengthening Democracy” will build the capacity of marginalised women to participate in state and national electoral politics, thereby catalysing democracy and minimising the gender deficit in Indian politics. 

Under this project, the core strategy of “Train, Contest, Win”, shall be implemented at three levels: 

1   At level one, women’s leadership capacity shall be built to reduce this gender deficit. Training will be imparted to create a pipeline of 1000 women leaders who shall be motivated to contest elections for state legislatures & national parliaments. Participant women shall be selected from the whole of India , (with proportional regional representation). Special emphasis shall be on building leadership amongst the marginalized women belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and backward classes.  

2   At level two, advocacy and lobbying with political parties to increase seats for women within parties and lobbying for the passage of 33% Reservation Bill will be undertaken. To achieve this, Centre for Social Research (CSR), with its network partner, WomenPowerConnect (WPC) will lobby with national and state level political parties so that women get their share of power in politics.  

3   At level three, learnings from the projects shall be shared with South Asian partners, to build stronger foundation for democracy in South Asia .

At the end of the project, the capacity of women across India to contest elections will be enhanced. Political parties will be made aware about this pool of trained women. Key political parties shall be encouraged to employ voluntary quotas within parties to ensure gender balance. The parties’ leaders shall be sensitized and lobbied with to ensure the smooth passage of the Women's Reservation Bill.