The provision of reserved seats for scheduled castes and tribes (SC/ST) in legislative bodies has been celebrated as one of the most empowering measures for them to overcome historical disadvantage. However, historical trajectory of reserved seats for SCs/STs suggests that key players like Ambedkar preferred separate electorate, multi-member constituencies and double vote as measures of effective representation for SCs over simply reserved seats with the joint electorate. It was out of political compromise in the face of Gandhi’s fast unto death that Ambedkar accepted reserved seats with a double vote from which double vote was taken out later. As per the general assumption, the presence of SCs representatives in decision-making bodies makes the voices of their community better heard. This study attempts to empirically know the ‘representativeness’ of SC/ST members of legislative bodies as far as substantiveness of their representation is concerned by comparatively analysing parliamentary questions raised by them and non-SC Members of Parliament (MPs) on the issues concerning SCs. Our analysis confirms a positive relationship between reserved seats and number of questions asked on SC/ST interests by the reserved seat MPs. However, several other factors like party affiliation, membership in ruling or opposition party and ideology appear to affect SC/ST MPs’ ability to represent their community.

中文翻译：

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通过对 Lok Sabha（1999-2016 年）的议会问题的分析，评估保留席位作为在列种姓和在列部落的实质性代表的衡量标准

在立法机构中为在册种姓和部落 (SC/ST) 提供保留席位被认为是他们克服历史劣势的最赋权措施之一。然而，SCs/STs 保留席位的历史轨迹表明，Ambedkar 等主要参与者更喜欢单独的选民、多成员选区和双重投票作为 SCs 有效代表的措施，而不是简单地与联合选民保留席位。面对甘地的快速致死，安贝德卡以双票接受保留席位，后来又取消了双票，这是出于政治妥协。根据一般假设，决策机构中 SC 代表的存在可以更好地听取其社区的声音。本研究试图通过比较分析他们和非 SC 议员 (MPs) 就涉及 SCs 的问题提出的议会问题，从经验上了解立法机构 SC/ST 成员的“代表性”，就其代表的实质性而言. 我们的分析证实了保留席位与保留席位议员就 SC/ST 利益提出的问题数量之间存在正相关关系。然而，党派、执政党或反对党成员身份和意识形态等其他几个因素似乎会影响 SC/ST 议员代表其社区的能力。我们的分析证实了保留席位与保留席位议员就 SC/ST 利益提出的问题数量之间存在正相关关系。然而，党派、执政党或反对党成员身份和意识形态等其他几个因素似乎会影响 SC/ST 议员代表其社区的能力。我们的分析证实了保留席位与保留席位议员就 SC/ST 利益提出的问题数量之间存在正相关关系。然而，政党关系、执政党或反对党成员身份和意识形态等其他几个因素似乎会影响 SC/ST 议员代表其社区的能力。