AMN /
Members cutting across party lines in Parliament, today demanded passage of Women Reservation Bill. Speaking in the Lok Sabh, on occasion of International Women’s Day, Congress President Sonia Gandhi called for passage of the bill in the Parliament.
The bill granting 33 per cent reservations to women in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and state assemblies is pending in Parliament. Ms. Gandhi advocated for equal rights to women saying the country must have the courage to deal with the social evils that women are facing. Ms. Gandhi, while taking on NDA government, said the maximum governance does not mean only of accelerating economic growth but it also involves debates and discussion without any retaliation. She said despite their remarkable performance in different fields, women is continued to be the victims of oppression and discrimination.
The Congress President said women accounts for around 40 per cent of elected representatives in Panchayat and local bodies after enacting a law which makes mandatory 33 per cent reservation. She also expressed concern over laying down of some eligibility criteria regarding education by some states for fighting local bodies polls. She said such things results in denying the rights of women belonging to SC and ST communities.
Ms. Gandhi said, the matter needs urgent attention.
Earlier, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan called upon the MPs to re- dedicate themselves for the cause of women participation, equality and commitment towards mitigating the hurdles in women education. She said that women have always been contributing to the upliftment of the society in various human forms like daughter, sister wife and mother. She also stressed the need for ensuring maximum participation of women in decision making process, nation buildings and in development in all walks of life.
Participating in the discussion, BJP MP Hema Malini said every girl should be allowed to dream big like boy. She said the society that nurtures women automatically becomes a cultured society. TMC MP Satabdi Roy advocated for financial strength for women. NCP MP Supriya Sule, TRS MP K Kavitha, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi and others also participated in the debate. The discussion is continuing.
On the occasion of Women’s Day today, several women members of the Rajya Sabha also appealed to the government to show its commitment to women’s empowerment by adopting this Bill.
Minority Affairs Minister Dr. Najma Heptullah, making a submission on Women’s Day expressed the hope that the Bill, which has been passed by Rajya Sabha, would see the light of the day during the current year itself.