GUWAHATI, Sep 19: A day after the Union cabinet approved the Women’s Reservation Bill guaranteeing one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the central government introduced the bill in Lok Sabha of the new Parliament building today.
The bill was introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building.
Once the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, as the new bill has been named, is passed, the number of seats for women in Lok Sabha will increase to 181, Law Minister Meghwal said.
Discussion for passing the Bill in the House will be taken up tomorrow, while the Bill is expected to be taken up in Rajya Sabha on September 21, news agency ANI stated quoting government sources.
Earlier in his address in the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building, PM Modi said that The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ will ensure more women become members of Parliament and the state legislative assemblies.
“Discussion on Women’s Reservation Bill happened for a long time. During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced several times but there was not enough majority to pass the Bill, and because of this dream remained incomplete. Today, God has given me the opportunity to take this forward…Our government is bringing a new Bill today on Women’s participation in both Houses…” PM Modi said.
The Women Reservation Bill that seeks to guarantee 33 per quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies was introduced as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill by Union law minister.
This was the first agenda of the day taken up by the Lower House in the new Parliament building. The five-day special session of the Parliament began on Monday. (With inputs from ANI)
