LIVE | Day 2 in Parliament: Unanimously clear women reservation bill, PM tells Rajya Sabha
Bill gets the name Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; bill proposes 33% quota for women for 15 years
The government on Tuesday (September 19) introduced a constitutional amendment bill to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, reviving a bill pending for 27 years for want of consensus among parties.
Making it the first bill to be introduced in the new Parliament building, the government said it will enable greater participation of women in policy-making at the state and national levels and help achieve the goal of making India a developed country by 2047. The bill has been named Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
With several parties parties pushing for reservation of women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the bill is likely to see a smooth passage this time, unlike the earlier instances when several regional parties had opposed it. However, its implementation may still take some time and is unlikely to be in force for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024 as the reservation will come into effect only after a delimitation exercise is completed.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Union Cabinet approved the bill on Monday and that the government wants more and more women to join the development process of the country. The world has recognised the women-led development process in the country and is witnessing contribution made by Indian women in different aspects of life from sports to startups, the prime minister said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Modi appealed to members to unanimously approve the women's reservation bill - Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam - when it comes to the Upper House after being passed by Lok Sabha. Speaking during the first sitting of Rajya Sabha in the new Parliament building, Modi said the bill would be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. "When the bill comes before you, I urge Rajya Sabha members to approve it unanimously," Modi said.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Constitutional Amendment bill, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, to reserve one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women earlier in the day.
The special session commenced on Monday (September 18) amid an intense buzz on whether the government will have some surprise item up its sleeve. What followed was an impassioned speech by Prime Modi, who recalled key pieces of legislation passed in the existing Parliament House.
Live Updates
- 19 Sept 2023 3:55 PM IST
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 20th September
The Special Session of Parliament in Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 20th September.
- 19 Sept 2023 2:56 PM IST
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti calls Union cabinet's approval of discussion on Women's Reservation Bill a 'great step'
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the Union cabinet's approval of the Women's Reservation Bill for parliamentary discussion.
"Having navigated the rough terrain of a predominantly male political landscape myself, I am happy to see that finally the Women Reservation bill will become a reality. Despite constituting half of the population, we are grossly underrepresented. It's a great step," Mufti wrote on X.
Mufti stressed that it's never too late to pass the bill in Parliament, considering the challenges women face in male-dominated politics. She insisted the need for women to have a voice at the decision-making table, whether in state assemblies or the national parliament.
Mufti also echoed former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's sentiment that the bill belongs to all, acknowledging the role played by late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in promoting women's representation, especially in panchayats. She called panchayats the training ground for women to assume larger responsibilities in politics.
Mufti recognized the past challenges the bill faced, including opposition from regional parties seeking quotas within quotas for marginalized women. She insisted on the significance of bipartisan support, with both Congress and BJP contributing to the bill's progress, ultimately benefiting women in Indian politics.
- 19 Sept 2023 2:29 PM IST
Women's Reservation Bill to be called Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
Women's Reservation Bill to be called Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Reservation proposed for 15 years (3 election cycles), 33 percent quota to include reserved seats for SC and ST women (to be apportioned from existing chunk of SC/ST reserved seats).
