Activists demand women’s bill with ‘50%’ quota be passed in winter session

Ananya Panda
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 4

Woman groups and activists on Tuesday expressed their disappointment with all political parties for ignoring the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill (WRB) and demanded that the Narendra Modi government pass the bill with no less than “50 per cent reservation” in legislature in the winter session of Parliament starting December 11.

Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Alka lamba and Congress leader Sharmishtha Mukherjee came forward to extend their support to the demand.

Addressing reporters Dr Ranjana Kumari of The National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bill said, for years governments have promised reservation to women, but the path towards the bill being a reality has been 23 long years.

Once again it is the time of elections and the time now to hold political parties responsible for the promises they made to the women of India, she noted referring to how women, who comprise 50 per cent of India's total electorate, can make a difference in 2019 elections.

“Our political leaders having a patriarchal mindset have always put women’s issues on a back-burner. Marginalisation of women continues almost in every sphere of society. They face abuse and violence everywhere and have been continuously kept away from decision-making. It is a long way for women towards empowerment with no sincere efforts coming from political leaders,” asserted Dr Ranjana, urging all parliamentarians to pass the women and give women parity.

The present government is in a position to pass the bill, especially in light of the resolution seeking 33 percent reservation passed recently by the Odisha Assembly, they added.

“There is need to invest in the women leaders from within the parties. Women as voters need to create a vote bank and think on gender issues, we need to ensure voters to be sensitised to create a vote bank to work on women issues," said Congress' spokesperson Sharmishtha Mukherjee.