The Better Half: Role of women in Indian politics discussed

Professor said women held 62 seats out of 543 (11%) in the present parliament in India.

LAHORE:

Bhavna Mehta, a professor at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baruda, said women’s participation in politics could improve both society and the country. She was addressing a seminar organised by Pakistan Study Centre at Punjab University on the Role of Women in Indian Politics on Tuesday.

She said women played a prominent role in Indian independence movement, but few participated in politics later. She said it was after 60 years that the first woman speaker was elected. She said women held 62 seats out of 543 (11%) in the present parliament in India. Mehta said women became truly empowered when one-third of the seats were reserved for them in local bodies. “Women brought in new perspectives, better priorities in development, less corruption and increased harmony at the grassroots, while ensuring amicable dispute resolution.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2014.