Congress president Rahul Gandhi has written to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, urging his Government in the State to pass a resolution calling on the Centre to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill. Rahul has written the letter, seeking passage of a resolution urging the Central Government to pass the Bill, to the Chief Ministers of those States where the Congress is in power. His letter comes just days before the start of the Winter Session of Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi noted that the Rajya Sabha passed the 108th constitutional Amendment Bill in 2010, but it lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.
“The Congress and several parties have called on the Prime Minister to ensure the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill and pledged their support. While the opponents of the Bill have cast doubts on the ability of women to affect change, the leadership role taken by women after the 73rd and 73th constitutional amendments have proved the detractors wrong,” he said in his letter.
The Bill seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
“In order to affirm our support to the passage of the Bill, it would be expedient for the State Assembly to pass a resolution calling for the reservation of one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative Assembly for women, in the next Session,” Rahul said.
He said Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev had also written to all party-led State Governments in this regard on November 23.
The legislative Assemblies of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have already taken a lead and passed a resolution calling on the Central Government to enact the Women’s Reservation Bill, he noted.
Ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, Rahul Gandhi had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to “demonstrate his commitment to the cause of women”, and ensure the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill during that Session.
The party also demanded passing of a Bill protecting the rights of domestic workers in upcoming Parliament Session, asserting that Central law aimed at securing descent working conditions for them and regulating of placement agencies was the need of the hour.
Arbind Singh, Chairman of the All India Unorganised Workers Congress (AIUWC), alleged that the policy on domestic workers envisioned by the Government was not all encompassing and lacks in addressing core issues and rights of domestic workers.
Singh said a law aimed at securing descent-working conditions and regulating placement agencies was the need of the hour.
The comprehensive draft law for domestic workers looking at various aspects such as regulation of working condition, fixation of wages, holidays, regulation of placement agencies, and social security, has been submitted by AIUWC to the Government.
A delegation will also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minster’s Office(PMO) demanding law for domestic workers.