Assam adopts resolution for speedy women’s quota rollout

The Assam Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling for the immediate implementation of one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures, after completing the delimitation process.

The resolution, which was moved by Women and Child Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog on Monday, was passed by a voice vote.

Placing the resolution for adoption, Neog said that reservation of seats for women in the highest policy-making bodies was the need of the hour. “I have been an MLA since 2001, and I cannot say the number of women colleagues has increased. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to grant this reservation,” she said.

“We are in the 21st century, and women cannot be held back anymore,” Neog, the State’s longest-serving women legislator and only woman finance minister, added.

Discussion on the resolution witnessed the participation of MLAs from both treasury and Opposition benches, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

He said Assam has a legacy of honouring women’s power, from Goddess Kamakhya to Ahom princess Joymoti to freedom fighter Kanaklata, and they have played a pivotal role in the State’s social discourse. He also cited the contribution of the 40 lakh women associated with self-help groups to the economy.

Sarma also accused the Congress of being “anti-women” after the party staged a walkout from the Assembly during the discussion, and said it could have passed the reservation bill when it was in power, but did not do so.

The Opposition parties, while supporting reservation for women, were against linking the delimitation exercise with it. Congress’s Jakir Hussain Sikdar said that it was during the party’s regime that 50 per cent women’s reservation was given in panchayats, and the country’s first woman president, prime minister, chief minister and such high positions were appointed by the grand old party.

“We are not against the reservation. In fact, we support it. But it should not be linked with delimitation,” Sikdar added. Raijor Dal’s Akhil Gogoi said that his party wants 50 per cent reservation of seats for women.

“Why wait for delimitation? Raijor Dal wants the reservation to be implemented immediately,” he said.

Trinamool Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, while supporting quota for women, also emphasised the need for literacy among women.