Lok Sabha passes momentous women’s reservation Bill

One-third reservation of seats for women in Lower House and State legislative Assemblies

The Lok Sabha passed the momentous women’s reservation bill on September 20 , 2023 , t wenty-seven years after was first introduced in Parliament.  The bill was passed with near unanimity to amend the Constitution and provide one-third reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. 

The Bill is called Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam . The Bill was passed last evening after a division of vote in which 454 MPs voted in favor of the Bill while two MPs against it. Speaker Om Birla announced the eventual passage of the Bill in the Lower House.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday on the first day of proceedings of the Parliament in the new building. Replying to the discussion over the Bill, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, the bill will provide greater representation to women in policymaking.

Speaking on the Bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said, women-led development will start with the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill. He said, women’s empowerment can be a political issue for many parties but it is not a political issue for the BJP.

He said, that since the formation of this Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, security, dignity, and participation of women have been the focus area of the government.

 
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said, through Women’s Reservation Bill, foundation of new India is being laid.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said her party supports this legislation. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, everyone in the House agrees that the Women’s Reservation Bill is a very important step for the women of the country.

Dimple Yadav of the Samajwadi Party asked the question of whether the provisions of this bill will be applicable to Rajya Sabha and the Vidhan Parishad. Chirag Paswan of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) accused the opposition parties of doing politics on Women’s Reservation Bill.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Union Minister and Apna Dal MP Anupriya Patel and Jagdambika Pal of BJP also participated in the discussion on the bill.