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