Pass women's reservation bill unanimously, says PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the Rajya Sabha to pass the Women's Reservation Bill unanimously during a special session of Parliament.

The bill, known as the "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam," was introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, aiming to reserve one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.

PM Modi emphasised the significance of this step towards women's empowerment and termed September 19, 2023, as a memorable and historic day.

He noted that the relocation of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to the new Parliament building symbolises a new beginning, emphasising the need to achieve goals promptly, as the new generation is eager for change, reported PTI.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government's commitment to enacting the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,' which seeks to expand women's participation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, strengthening democracy.

He acknowledged the prolonged debates and controversies surrounding women's reservation, dating back to 1996 when the first bill on this issue was introduced. He mentioned previous attempts during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure that fell short due to insufficient support.

Highlighting the importance of empowering women and ensuring their rights, PM Modi expressed gratitude for being chosen to lead this endeavour. He congratulated women and called on all members of both Houses to unanimously pass this bill.

In the inaugural session of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building, PM Modi urged MPs to let go of past conflicts and set an inspiring example for the nation's citizens. He emphasised that Parliament serves the nation's development and is not a platform for advancing political parties.

The new Parliament building represents the aspirations of India's 1.4 billion citizens, and its inauguration marks a fresh beginning.

The Women's Reservation Bill, aimed at providing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, will become effective following the next delimitation exercise, expected to occur after 2026.

Key Provisions of the Women's Reservation Bill:

• The bill seeks to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi assembly. It does not apply to the Rajya Sabha or state Legislative Councils.
• Within the allocated quota, one-third will be reserved for women from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• The reservation of seats will be implemented after the delimitation process, which will occur after the publication of relevant figures from the first census conducted after 2026.
• Seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will rotate following each subsequent delimitation exercise.
• The bill prohibits two women MPs from contesting the same seat.
• The bill does not include reservations for women from the OBC category.

The government's objective in proposing this bill is to facilitate increased participation of women in policymaking at both state and national levels.

This bill has been pending for nearly 27 years, with its last concrete action being its approval in the Rajya Sabha in 2010.