The Women’s Reservation Bill has been listed by the Government to be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Special Parliament Session. This session is taking place in the new parliament building. The government recognizes that while women participate significantly in panchayats and municipal bodies, their representation in state assemblies and Parliament is still limited. Prime Minister Modi has emphasized the importance of women’s role in achieving the goal of making India a developed country by 2047.
The bill aims to provide 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Prime Minister described it as a grand vision on a grand canvas. The bill was first introduced in 1996 but did not receive enough support from the government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee. The Prime Minister expressed his privilege in welcoming this change and stated that members across parties have joined hands in presenting this bill. The bill is called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The allocation of reserved seats will be determined by a prescribed authority. One third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be reserved for women of those groups in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies. Reserved seats may be allotted to different constituencies in the state or union territory through rotation. Reservation of seats for women will end 15 years after the commencement of this Amendment Act.
There are different opinions on the reservation policy. Supporters argue that affirmative action is necessary to improve the condition of women. Studies on panchayats have shown positive effects of reservation on women’s empowerment and resource allocation. Opponents claim that it perpetuates the unequal status of women and diverts attention from larger issues of electoral reform. Some experts have suggested alternative methods such as reservation in political parties and dual member constituencies. Rotation of reserved constituencies in every election may reduce the incentive for MPs to work for their constituencies.
The report examining the 1996 women’s reservation Bill recommended extending reservation to women of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and to the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils. However, these recommendations have not been included in the current bill.
