Cutting across party lines, women MPs in the Rajya Sabha on Friday urged the Government to ensure passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha to provide women adequate representation in legislative bodies and decision making. The Bill was passed by the Upper House in 2010.
Participating in a brief debate on the issue, almost all the women MPs urged the BJP-led Government to use its majority in the Lower House to pass the Bill. The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill is commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Bill and is awaiting nod of the Lok Sabha.
Initiating the discussion, Jaya Bachchan (SP) said her party was not against the Bill but favoured sub-reservation for other backward classes (OBC) and Dalits. Terming the present Bill as “cosmetic,” she also said it caters to only to the privileged section of women. The SP member said political parties should be given right to choose the seats or constituencies from where they wish to field 33 per cent women, she said.
Jharna Das Baidya (CPM) said the BJP has absolute majority in the Lok Sabha but has not got the Bill passed. V Thota Seetharama Lakshmi (TDP) said her party supports the legislation and appealed to the Government to ensure its passage in the Lower House.
Shanta Chhetri (TMC) said her party gave one-third of tickets to women in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and West Bengal has already provided 50 per cent reservation to women in local bodies.
Vijila Sathyananth (AIADMK) urged the Government to bring the Bill and ensure its passage it in Lok Sabha. “You have enormous majority” to pass the legislation, she said.
Kanimozhi (DMK) said the Right, Left and Centre are supporting the bill, yet it has not been passed in Lok Sabha for nine years. “It is very sad that women have to put up with decisions made by men throughout their lives. Even here men are making decision for women,” she said, asking the government to bring the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.
Backing the Bill, Sonal Mansingh (nominated) said the rotational provision in the bill needs attention and detailing adding women in legislatures will bring “grace, wisdom and harmony.” However, the Bill should not be a hand downs by males and they should do it with grace.
Congress member Viplove Thakur said there cannot be women empowerment until they become decision-makers. She said the ruling BJP had promised reservation for women in Parliament and now the Lok Sabha should pass the bill already cleared by the Upper House.
Asserting that her party favours the Bill, Kahkashan Parween (JD-U) said Bihar has already implemented women reservation in local bodies. She said several women are heading Zila Parishads and are also mayors. BJP member Sampatya Uikey said her party is empowering women.