Decoding why women shy away from vote rights
Several women in the city cited family responsibilities as the reason for not registering themselves to vote. Ironically, most city administrations are reaching out to housing societies to ensure better enrolment.
In 2011, the Maharashtra Assembly unanimously approved a 50% reservation for women in local bodies. The rule was implemented to ensure greater women participation in the political process at the grass roots level.
However, when it comes to participating in the democratic process — registering for voter rolls and casting ballots — a majority of women in the state remain reluctant.
The latest voting statistics of ten big cities in Maharashtra, which will be going to polls in February, reveal a large gender voting registration gap in most parts of the state. Mumbai ranks ninth, of the 10 cities surveyed, in voter sex ratio, reveals the data obtained from the Maharashtra State Election Commission.
Only 818 women per 1,000 men have registered themselves. The Mumbai suburban district has a voter sex ratio of 827. These figures are much lower compared to the general sex ratio of the city and suburbs, 832 and 860 respectively, according to the 2011 Census.
Neighbouring cities like Thane (841) and Ulhasnagar (825) also have fewer women registering themselves to vote, as compared to men. On the other hand, Pimpri Chinchwad (966) had the best voter sex ratio among the state's ten biggest cities, which is higher than its general sex ratio (833).
This apart, Nagpur (954), Solapur (936) and Pune (925) have a considerably high voter sex ratio as compared to Mumbai. Among ten big municipal corporations, only Amravati has a lower voter sex ratio than Mumbai.
Patriarchal norms, lack of awareness and disinterest in politics are being cited as the major reasons for skewed voter sex ratio, say experts.
Several women in the city cited family responsibilities as the reason for not registering themselves to vote. Ironically, most city administrations are reaching out to housing societies to ensure better enrolment.
A number of girl students from engineering colleges, who have turned 18, cited a lack of interest in local politics as the reason for not exercising their franchise.
"We do not understand local politics. We don't think the city will not improve irrespective of who comes to power in BMC," said a MTech student from IIT Bombay.