Indian Constitution's 108 Amendment Bill.
Today, on International Women's Day, Vice President Hamid Ansari introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. This is the Indian Constitution's 108 Amendment Bill. Now, it must be passed in Lok Sabha with 2/3rd majority and 14 States must retify it.
The Bill seeks to reserve "as nearly as may be" one third seats of the present strength of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies including Delhi to women.
Women’s Reservation Bill - India
Here is a synopsis :
Ø First introduced in Lok Sabha ( Lower House ) by United Front Government in 1996
Ø Calls for 33 % reservation of seats for women from Lok Sabha to local legislatures. Panchayats ( village councils ) already have 33.3 % reservation for women
Ø Who is supporting whole-heartedly ?
Congress / BJP / AIDMK / other parties
Ø Who supports conditionally ?
Samajwadi Party / Bahujan Samaj Party / Rashtriya Janata Dal etc.
Ø What is their condition ?
Within the 33 % quota, there must be a sub-quota for women from backward classes
Ø Why this condition ?
They are afraid that in absence of a sub-quota, the bill will only help women from the elitist groups
Ø Who can bring about a compromise ?
Lok Sabha Speaker ( Ms ) Meira Kumar – herself a woman from a backward class
Ø What has been the progress so far ?
Bill has already been passed in Rajya Sabha ( Upper House ) in 2010
Ø What can we do ?
Pray that it does not meet the fate of the Lokpal Bill !
With regards
Hemen Parekh
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