By Dr AK Srivastava
It is our privilege that the chance to script history was given to us by crores of Indians. The passage of the women’s quota bill will be discussed for generations. – PM Modi
Women empowerment or gender equality is the essence of democracy. We all know that our social fabric has always been male-dominated. We worship several goddesses but when it comes to giving equal opportunities to women, we are not very forthcoming or accommodating. The need for such an initiative has been severely felt since Independence. Some women activists or forward-looking men raised their voices in this matter even before Independence. Even before independence in 1933, Begun Shah and Sarojini Naidu submitted an official memorandum to the British Prime Minister demanding a special status for women in the new constitution.
In most of the countries, such a provision of reservation for women has already been done. Even in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and most of the developed nations, women have this honour. In India, we have only fifteen percent women in Parliament and eight percent in state assemblies. Hence, the scenario has to be changed and we need to acknowledge the contribution of women to the progress and development of humanity.
The National Perspective Plan for Women was recommended in 1988. It proposed special reservations for women from the Panchayat to Parliament level.
According to the 73rd and 74th amendments in 1992, 33 percent reservation was provided to women at the Panchayati Raj and Municipal level. They were also entitled to occupy one third position as chairpersons or heads of Panchayati Raj institutions. One third position was especially reserved for women belonging to the SC/ST category in these reserved seats.
During the last 27 years, the Women’s Reservation Bill was tabled again and again in Parliament but it could not be passed. In 1996, this Bill could not be passed as the 11th Lok Sabha was dissolved. Once again, the bill was proposed (84th Amendment), but it could not be passed or lapsed as the Lok Sabha was dissolved once again. In 1999, the Bill was again brought to the Lok Sabha but it could not be pursued due to lack of support or political will. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh proposed this Bill in 2008. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but it lapsed once again as the Lok Sabha dissolved before it could be taken up for voting. In short, the lack of initiative and will power was the main cause of its repeated failure.
Prime Minister Modi brought this Bill on the very first day of functioning in the new Parliament building. He named it Nari Shakti Vandan Bill. It was introduced by Minister Arun Rampal. This time, the BJP was really serious about the success of the Bill and the party had a majority to pass it, both, at the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha levels. This Bill was passed with the required majority on 23 September. It is the 123rd amendment to the constitution.
According to the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, 33 percent seats will be reserved in the Lok Sabha, State/ Union Territory Legislatures and that of the National Capital, Delhi. Women belonging to the SC/ST category will get a reservation within this reservation for themselves. The reserved seats will be rotated after every delimitation process. Initially, this reservation will be for fifteen years and it can be extended if there is any such need and Parliament gives approval. This Bill will be implemented after the next census and delimitation. That means, this Bill will be effective only in 2029. No census is possible before 2024 and no delimitation can be done before the census. Hence, it is quoted, “The provision of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a state and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first census taken after commencement of the Constitution (128 Amendment) Act 2023 have been published.
At the moment, we have 543 members in Parliament. It means 181 seats will be reserved for women MPs. But all this will actually take place in 2029 according to the new census and delimitation.
The opposition parties have expressed unhappiness with the timing of the Bill as it was passed when the next general election is so close. According to them, all this has been done to lure women voters. During the debates in Parliament, almost all speakers of the opposition parties raised this issue. They don’t want to give any credit for this Bill to the ruling party.
Some of the debaters (from opposition parties) in the parliament wanted reservation for women belonging to the OBCs and minorities. The ruling party responded to the objections of the opposition parties saying that according to the constitution no reservation can be done on the basis of religion.
This Women’s Reservation Bill will have a long lasting and multidimensional effect on our society. There are numerous areas in our country and at international levels where women have shown extraordinary wisdom, talent and understanding of problems. Now, we hope to see women lead development with their new perception and vision.
Some decisions can change the course of a country’s future. The successful passage of the women’s reservation bill in Parliament is one such decision. – PM Modi
This is a great moment in this country’s history. The BJP government got the opportunity to fulfill the dreams of crores of women. I, as a responsible citizen, feel proud. – PM Modi
