Context

·       By 2050, over 800 million people, nearly half the population, are projected to reside in cities, positioning India as the largest contributor to global urban growth.

·       As urban spaces swell in size and influence, they are not merely changing skylines, but redefining the very fabric of democracy and development.

·       Central to this transformation is the question of who shapes and benefits from urban growth.

·       In this context, gender equity is not just a social ideal but a structural necessity.

The Rise of Women in Local Politics and Persistent Gaps

·       In the last three decades, India has made significant strides in enhancing women’s political representation.

·       The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments introduced a mandatory 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Governments (ULGs).

·       Several states have gone further, increasing this quota to 50%. As a result, women today account for over 46% of elected local representatives.

·       This political inclusion is historic and transformative, creating a pipeline of women leaders at the grassroots.

·       However, this political progress starkly contrasts with the reality of gender imbalance in urban administration.

·       Women constitute just 20% of the Indian Administrative Service, and their numbers are even lower in urban planning, municipal engineering, and transport authorities.

·       In policing, a critical pillar for urban safety, only 11.7% of personnel are women, often confined to desk jobs.

·       This structural gap is not just numerical; it profoundly affects urban policy outcomes.

·       Women engage with cities differently than men.

·       They rely more on public transport, make complex, multi-stop journeys, and are more dependent on neighbourhood-level infrastructure.

·       Yet, urban planning continues to favour large-scale projects over the local needs that define women’s everyday lives.

·       Studies show that a lack of women in decision-making roles results in public spaces that are poorly lit, unsafe, and inadequately serviced for their needs.

Gender-Responsive Budgeting: A Missed Opportunity

·       An important tool for institutionalising gender equity is Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB).

·       Recognised globally since the 1990s, GRB integrates gender considerations into public financial planning.

·       India formally adopted GRB in 2005–06, and states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have pioneered its implementation in urban contexts.

·       Despite these efforts, most cities continue to treat GRB as a token gesture rather than a transformational tool.

·       Weak monitoring, limited technical capacity, and a narrow understanding of gender needs have rendered these initiatives ineffective in many urban local bodies.

·       For example, vital aspects such as pedestrian safety, street lighting, and childcare are frequently ignored.

·       In contrast, countries like Rwanda, Mexico, and South Korea have embedded GRB into national and urban governance with strong oversight, participatory frameworks, and results-based budgeting.

The Way Ahead

1.     Learning from Global and Local Examples

·       Rwanda’s gender-balanced policies have led to increased investments in maternal health and education.

·       Brazil has redirected funding to improve sanitation and primary healthcare, and South Korea has reshaped transit systems through gender impact assessments.

·       The Philippines funds gender-based violence shelters via gender-tagged budgeting. These are not just policy tweaks; they are paradigmatic shifts toward citizen-centric, inclusive governance.

·       India also has successful homegrown models.

·       The Kudumbashree programme in Kerala has empowered women through participatory planning and community development, offering a replicable model for other cities.

·       These examples show that gender equity is achievable with political will, institutional support, and community engagement.

2.     Towards Truly Inclusive Urban Governance

·       To build truly inclusive cities, India must go beyond political quotas and address the deep-rooted gender gap in urban governance.

·       This means systemic reforms in recruitment, retention, and promotion of women across bureaucratic and technical roles.

·       Affirmative action, such as scholarships and reserved positions in urban planning and engineering, is vital to dismantle structural barriers.

·       Moreover, tools like GRB must be mainstreamed, audited, and tied to performance metrics.

·       Capacity-building in smaller cities is essential, as is the establishment of local gender equity councils to ensure accountability and participatory oversight.

·       When women not only hold office but also wield real power in administration, planning, and budgeting, cities become safer, more equitable, and better governed.