Because only 34% of these first-time voters are women, according to data from the Election Commission of India, there is a clear gender imbalance. 2.8 lakh men make up the astonishing majority of these voters—nearly 4.2 lakh.
This discrepancy draws attention to the state’s ingrained patriarchal culture and prejudices, as young women’s voter registration is frequently delayed until after marriage. Officials encounter pushback in their attempts to urge young women to register to vote. Marriage is often valued more highly than political participation in families, which feeds the cycle of disenfranchisement.
Source: Times of India
To exacerbate the situation, women’s political agency is further curtailed by the perception that men dictate their decisions. The representation of women in the election contest is equally lopsided. Just 16 of the 223 candidates running in the Haryana general election are female, five of them are from mainstream political parties, despite the fact that women make up roughly 47% of the electorate.
Despite claiming to promote women’s rights, major parties have not fielded a sufficient number of female nominees.There is, nevertheless, good news in several areas of the state. Women are starting to speak up about issues like employment, energy, and water supply.
Source: Times Now
There has also been a noticeable increase in the number of women attending public meetings. However, there is still more work to be done to eliminate patriarchal systems and close the gender gap. In order to establish India as a really inclusive and transparent democracy, women’s voices must be amplified.
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