Urbanization in India: Context
- By 2050, India’s urban population is projected to reach 800 million, making it the largest contributor to global urban growth.
- Urban expansion is reshaping India’s democratic fabric, social contract, and development priorities.
Political Representation of Women: Progress
- 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments mandated 33% reservation for women in PRIs and ULBs.
- 17 States & 1 UT increased this to 50%.
- As of 2024, women constitute 46% of local elected representatives (Ministry of Panchayati Raj).
- Rise in women mayors and councillors reflects growing grassroots participation.
Administrative Gender Gap
- Underrepresentation in bureaucracy limits inclusive urban governance.
- Women in IAS: only 20% (IndiaSpend, 2022).
- Women in police force: only 7%, mostly in desk roles (Bureau of Police Research and Development, 2023).
- Sectors like urban planning, engineering, and transport remain male-dominated.
Impacts of Gender Imbalance in Urban Planning
- Women have different urban experiences—multi-stop trips, higher dependence on public transport, local infrastructure needs.
- 84% of women in Delhi/Mumbai use public/shared transport (vs 63% of men).
- 60%+ public spaces are poorly lit (Safetipin, 2019), reflecting lack of gender-sensitive design.
- Few women in policing weakens community safety measures.
Why Representation Matters?
- Women officials prioritize water, health, safety, and inclusive infrastructure.
- Studies (ICRIER, UN Women) show their presence enhances public trust and service delivery.
- Gender-sensitive design is impossible without gender-diverse institutions.
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB)
- India’s Gender Budget Statement introduced in 2005–06.
- Positive examples:
- Delhi: women-only buses, public lighting.
- Tamil Nadu: GRB across 64 departments.
- Kerala: embedded gender goals in People’s Plan Campaign.
- However, most GRB efforts suffer from:
- Weak monitoring.
- Limited institutional capacity.
- Tokenism in smaller cities.
Global Best Practices in GRB
- Philippines: mandates 5% of local budgets for gender.
- Rwanda: integrates GRB with national planning.
- Uganda: gender equity certificates for fund approval.
- Mexico: links GRB to results-based budgeting.
- South Africa: participatory GRB rooted in community realities.
Way Forward: Building Inclusive Urban Bureaucracies
- Political quotas must be accompanied by systemic reforms in:
- Recruitment, retention, and promotion of women.
- Affirmative action in urban planning & technical fields.
- Model interventions:
- Kudumbashree (Kerala): women’s collectives for empowerment.
- Local gender equity councils.
- Mandatory gender audits, participatory budgeting, and evaluation mechanisms.
India’s $5 trillion economy ambition must be matched by inclusive urban governance. Women should not only be elected representatives but also decision-makers in city planning and administration. Cities that are designed with women in mind function better for everyone.
