Centre Tables Women's Reservation Bill In Lok Sabha On Day 1 Of New Parliament

The much-anticipated Women's Reservation Bill has been introduced in the Parliament's special session amid consensus among all parties.

Centre Introduces Women's Reservation Bill In Lok Sabha

Source : PTI

On the first day of the session in the new Parliament, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the much-anticipated Women's Reservation Bill, named Nari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak, in Lok Sabha after it has been stuck for years. This comes after the Union cabinet cleared the bill -- a move which received the unanimous support of all parties, even though the Congress said that the demand was initiated by the UPA under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. The bill seeks to reserve 33 per cent quota in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

The legislation was first introduced in the Lok Sabha as the 81st Amendment Bill on September 12, 1996, by the Deve Gowda-led United Front government. However, the bill failed to get passed by the House and it lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

VIDEO | Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tables Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha amid opposition uproar. pic.twitter.com/7Wmg6567WN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 19, 2023

 

Bill Proposes Increase In Number Of Women MPs In Lok Sabha  

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the Bill proposes to increase the number of women MPs in Lok Sabha to 181 from 82.

"The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a very important Bill. We are inserting Article 239AA, through which 33 per cent women will get reservation in the national capital territory (NCT) of Delhi. We are making an amendment in Article 330A through which, reservation of seats for SC/ST which is already there, we are including 33 per cent reservation for women," Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said after tabling the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.

"This bill is in relation to women empowerment. By amending Article 239AA of the Constitution, 33% of seats will be reserved for women in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Article 330A reservations of seats for SC/ST in the House of people..," the minister said.

Earlier, addressing the House, PM Modi said that the government is taking forward the resolve of women-led development.

"On this historic occasion in the new Parliament building, as the first proceeding of the House, the beginning of all the Parliamentarians opening gateways for women power is being done with this crucial decision. Taking forward our resolve of women-led development, our government is bringing an important constitutional amendment bill. The bill is aimed at expanding the membership of women in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' will further empower our democracy," the PM said.

Congress' parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi has said the women's reservation bill "is ours". Asked about the bill when she was entering Parliament on Tuesday, Gandhi said, "It is ours, apna hai." In a post on 'X' a day back, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "We welcome the reported decision of the Union Cabinet and await the details of the Bill." "This could have very well been discussed in the all-party meeting before the Special Session, and consensus could have been built instead of operating under a veil of secrecy," he said.