Women protest non-passage of quota bill, take out march

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 13

With the women reservation bill still hanging fire after 21 years it was first introduced in Parliament, women groups today questioned the delay by the BJP-led government at the Centre in tabling the bill even after three years the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) majority has been in power.

Two days before the winter session of Parliament, activists from more than 50 organisations and resident welfare associations gathered under the banner of National Alliance for Women Reservation Bill for a solidarity march in the national Capital to remind the government of its promise of passing the bill which mandated, at least, 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The current NDA government’s majority in the Lok Sabha is enough to fulfil the party’s election promise of passing the long-pending women’s reservation bill.

“Why this delay when over 98 per cent MPs are supporting it? The march was a reminder call to the government to fulfil its promise. The women of India are appalled to see the government ignoring the bill even after three and half years of being in power,” said Dr Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research.

Noting that several countries of the world have raised the quota for women in politics, Ranjana asserted that despite their contribution to the country’s democracy, women are denied sharing of power and gender equality is still a far cry even after 70 years of Independence.

“India continues to lag behind with a dismal representation of women in Parliament and state assemblies. The first Parliament had 3% of women that has risen to 12 per cent in Parliament and an average of 9 per cent in state assemblies in India. At this rate it will take more than 100 years to reach gender parity in politics,” she added.