GruhLaxmi to Mahalaxmi: 33.33% Women’s Reservation in Parliament

Women Reservation Bill brings a change from GruhLaxmi to Mahalaxmi which represents an evolution toward greater empowerment and representation for women in the political domain. India has made remarkable steps in recent years that have increased women's political and spiritual empowerment. With the Indian government historic decision to reserve 33.33% of Parliament seats for women and the Mahalaxmi festival, it’s important for women to be informed of the new financial and tax benefits available to them.

Women Reservation Bill for Gender Equality

Allotment of Lower House Seats for Women: The Bill suggested introducing Article 330A into the constitution, which borrows from the provisions of Article 330, which provides for the allotment of Lok Sabha seats to SC/STs. The Bill provided that reserved seats for women could be rotated across districts in states or union territories. The Bill suggested reserving one-third of the seats allotted for SC/STs for women on a rotating basis. Article 332A of the Bill stipulates the reserve of seats for women in every state Legislative Assembly. Furthermore, one-third of the seats earmarked for SCs and STs must be reserved for women, as must one-third of the total seats filled through direct elections to Legislative Assemblies. Women’s Reservation in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (New Clause in 239AA): In terms of administrative and legislative functioning, Article 239AA of the constitution grants the Union Territory of Delhi unique status as the national capital. Article 239AA(2)(b) of the bill was amended to state that legislation approved by parliament applies to the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Financial Advantages or tax benefits to Women

In India, there are many financial advantage or tax benefits available to women now:

• Sukanya Samridhi Scheme, a Government of India-backed saving scheme that encourages parents to save for their female child’s future education and marriage expenditures. Contributions for program are tax deductible under Section 80C.
• Since 1956, when the succession law was first established, the Supreme Court has declared that all Hindu women have equal rights to their father’s property. In Hindu Ancestral Property, daughters have now the same rights as sons. A lady has the same
  rights as her children in her husband’s property. In the absence of a male member, women have the option of becoming the Karta of HUF. Furthermore, women can be the only entrepreneur in a One Person Company.
• The government has implemented a number of incentives to encourage female entrepreneurship. The Stand Up India program allows women entrepreneurs to seek for bank loans ranging from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore for the first time. The Mudra Yojana Scheme for Women provides women with loans of up to Rs. 10 lakh. There is, for example, a Cent Kalyani Scheme to provide financial stability to women who operate small and medium-sized businesses in agriculture or retail trading. Loans of up to Rs. 100 lakhs are approved without the need for a guarantee. The Central Bank of India provides these loans.

Connecting the Gender Gap in Political Leadership

Gender Equality: The political representation of a women is an important step towards gender equality. However, India ranks 48th out of 146 in Political Empowerment, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022.

Regardless of its ranking, the score of 0.267 is quite poor. Some of the highest-ranking countries in this area perform significantly better. Iceland, for example, is placed first with a score of 0.874, while Bangladesh is ranked ninth with a score of 0.546.

How can Women’s Representation be Effectively put into practice?

• Strengthen Independent Decision Making: Create an independent monitoring system or committees that clearly ban family members from influencing women representatives decision- making processes.
• Increasing Awareness and Education: It is critical to educate women about their rights and the value of political involvement.
• Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment: Gender-based violence and harassment are significant barriers to women’s political involvement. Addressing these concerns through legislative and legal measures will help to establish a more secure and welcoming climate for women in politics.
• Reforms to the Electoral System: Proportional representation and preferential voting systems, for example, can help to boost women’s representation in politics by ensuring that more women are elected.

Conclusion

Women’s roles in society are increasingly being recognized, from political participation to spiritual festivities. However, knowledge comes with power. To achieve financial independence and security, women must stay aware about these financial incentives and tax breaks. Combining political, cultural, and financial empowerment opens the way for a fair and equitable future in a society where even the Finance Minister is a woman. Women can lead the march for a brighter and more prosperous India by taking these chances and remaining informed about their benefits.