As the wait for the Women's Reservation Bill continues, statistics show that India fares poorer than its neighbours in South Asia in women's representation in the national legislatures, with countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh having much better numbers.
While there are 8.3 per cent women in the Lok Sabha, the lower house in Pakistan's National Assembly has 21.3 per cent women, according to a written reply given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Bangladesh has 15.1 per cent women in its Parliament, while Maldives too fares better than India with 12 per cent women in the national legislature.
The Upper House in Pakistan's National Assembly has 17 per cent women and that of Nepal 16.7 per cent, compared to the 11.2 per cent in Rajya Sabha.