Women’s Reservation Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The Women's Reservation Bill, pledging 33 percent of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies for women, was tabled in the Lower House of the new Parliament building on Tuesday.

Tabling the legislation, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said: “This Bill will empower women after amendment. By amending articles of the Constitution, 33 per cent of seats will be reserved for women".

The bill has been titled "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam".

In his first speech in the Lok Sabha of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Indian democracy will become stronger through the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.

“Taking forward our resolve for Women-led development, today our government is presenting a major Constitution Amendment Bill. This Bill aims to expand the participation of women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies,” said PM Modi.

Talking about the bill, Modi said for many years, there have been extensive discussions and debates on women’s reservations. “During Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s tenure, the Women’s Reservation Bill was presented several times, but it couldn’t gather enough support for passage, which is why that dream remained unfulfilled,” he said.

On Monday, the Women’s Reservation Bill was approved in the Cabinet. “September 19 is going to achieve immortality in history,” said PM, in a clear reference to the tabling of the document.

He said merely talking about women’s development was not enough for achieving new milestones in the development journey of mankind. "If we have to achieve new destinations in the development journey of the nation, then it is necessary that we give emphasis to women-led development,” the PM added. (UNI)