Women's Reservation Bill Introduced In Lok Sabha During Parliament Special Session

The Central government has introduced the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as the Women's Reservation Bill, in the Lok Sabha. This bill aims to reserve one-third of all seats for women in both the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies, including seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Union Minister of State for Law & Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, sought leave to introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha, which was met with objections from some Members of Parliament who had not seen the bill. However, the government maintained that the bill had been uploaded to the supplementary list of businesses. After a brief adjournment, the bill was introduced by voice vote.

Notably, the bill specifies that the reservation will come into effect once a delimitation exercise is undertaken in the first census after the commencement of the Act. This reservation for women will cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of the Amendment Act.

The bill's statement of objects and reasons highlights the importance of women's participation in decision-making processes, citing their different perspectives that enrich legislative debates and decision-making. It emphasizes that women's empowerment is essential for achieving the goal of becoming a "Vikasit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047.

"After completing 75 years of Independence, the nation has begun its journey into Amritkal with a goal of becoming Vikasit Bharat' by 2047," the bill states. "The role of women, constituting half of the population, is extremely important in the realization of this goal."

This bill represents a significant step toward promoting gender equality and increasing women's participation in India's political landscape.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University