Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
In recent news, the Lok Sabha has made history by passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Eighth Amendment) Bill in the year 2023. This bill has been a long-pending demand and could bring significant changes to the Indian political landscape.
Long-pending Demand for Women’s Reservation
- If passed successfully, the bill will provide a remarkable 33% reservation for women in both Lok Sabha and State assemblies.
- The Union Minister, Mr. Meghwal, introduced this groundbreaking bill, and upon its passage, the number of seats allocated for women in Lok Sabha will increase to 181.
Bill Proposal and Key Highlights
- The proposed reservation will be effective for a duration of 15 years.
- Within the reserved seats, there will also be a quota for SC/STs.
- Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary of Communication Congress, stated that the reservation would become effective after the next census publication and delimitation exercise.
Reservation Details
- The bill aims to allocate “as nearly as may be” one-third of the total seats in Lok Sabha and State assemblies through direct elections.
- The delimitation exercise involves redrawing boundaries of both Lok Sabha seats and State assembly seats.
- Its purpose is to represent changes in population and provide equal representation to different segments of society.
Government Perspective and Goals
- The government views this bill as a means to encourage greater participation of women in policymaking at both the state and national levels.
- It aligns with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’s goal of making India a developed country by 2047.
Bill Passing Criteria
- The bill will require ratification from a minimum of 50% of the states, as it affects state rights.
Pros of the Women’s Reservation Bill
Entry Issues
- The bill may address the issue of more women entering legislative houses but potentially leading to the loss of experienced legislators.
Community Representation Challenges
- OBCs and Muslims have faced challenges due to low women empowerment in their communities, and this bill may help address this issue.
Seat Issues
- While the bill’s rotation effect may result in less dedicated MPs and MLAs, it aims to provide opportunities for a wider range of representatives.
Cons of the Women’s Reservation Bill
Short-term Issues
- Some critics argue that the bill may hinder the resolution of new talents among women representatives in the short term.
Community Empowerment
- There is a contrary perspective that incentivizing women’s empowerment could avoid the risk of lower representation in the long run.
Male Politicians’ Strategy
- Male politicians might explore a wider range of seats to maintain their political presence.
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