Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 19 SEP: In a momentous stride towards promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in India, the Modi Government unveiled the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. This historic bill aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.
This groundbreaking initiative comes after numerous previous attempts to enact such legislation, all of which had fallen short. However, this time, the prospects for success seem promising, as the main opposition party, the Congress Party, has expressed its support for the bill.
In his inaugural speech within the new Lok Sabha building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that previous governments had tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to pass similar legislation. He remarked, “Perhaps God had chosen me to perform an auspicious responsibility once again, this time for empowering women and enabling them to devote their energy to the service of the nation.”
Prime Minister Modi passionately appealed to both Houses of Parliament to unanimously pass the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, a move aimed at fostering greater female participation in policy formulation.
The journey towards women’s reservation in the legislature began in 1996 with the introduction of the first bill. Subsequent efforts during the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure faced hurdles, unable to garner sufficient support.
Prime Minister Modi proudly announced that his Cabinet had approved the bill during a meeting held the day before. He highlighted the remarkable achievements of Indian women in various fields, both domestically and on the international stage, from sports and space exploration to startups and self-help groups. He also pointed out that the recent G20 summit, held under India’s presidency, had recognized the importance of women-led development.
The Prime Minister invoked the words of the late former President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, emphasizing that Parliament is not just a legislative body but also a deliberative one.
Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha, clarified that the reservation provisions would initially be applicable for a 15-year period, with the possibility of extension through parliamentary approval. Once enacted, the Lok Sabha, currently consisting of 82 women out of 543 members, would see its female representation increase to 181.
Responding to Congress members who pointed out the previous passage of a similar bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 under Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government, Mr. Meghwal explained that the bill had been reported to the Lok Sabha but had not been passed, ultimately lapsing after the Lok Sabha’s dissolution in 2014.
The women’s reservation in the legislature is seen as a significant step towards achieving India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, as per the government’s vision.
The passage of a constitutional amendment bill requires the support of a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, in each House of Parliament. The bill encountered no opposition when Mr. Meghwal sought permission to introduce it.
In a show of unity, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, expressed support for the bill, stating, “We want the bill passed.” He acknowledged the efforts of previous Congress Prime Ministers in attempting to pass similar legislation.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, received assurance from the Government that suitable women candidates would be given tickets, addressing concerns about the implementation of the law.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill emphasized the need for higher representation of women in State legislatures and Parliament, citing women’s substantial participation in panchayati raj institutions and municipal bodies but limited representation at higher political levels. It also highlighted the various attempts to introduce women’s reservation in the past, culminating in the current endeavor.
Notably, the women’s reservation law will also apply to the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, signaling a broader commitment to promoting gender parity in politics across the country.
Tags: #Women’sreservationbill #NarendraModi #NewParliamentHouse
