The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha with over two-thirds majority. The bill will now move to the Rajya Sabha for further consideration.
Home Minister Amit Shah has urged the opposition to unanimously support the bill and assured that any shortcomings can be addressed at a later stage. He dismissed concerns about delays in implementing the bill, stating that the government will conduct the census and delimitation exercise after the elections to pave the way for women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. Shah indicated that women’s reservation will become a reality after 2029. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to women-led development, emphasizing that the government has prioritized women’s empowerment, security, respect, and equal participation.
Shah mentioned that this is the fifth attempt to pass a bill for women’s reservation. He cited previous instances where similar bills were introduced but failed to clear hurdles or lapsed due to various reasons. He expressed hope that this time, the bill will be passed unanimously, and any shortcomings can be rectified in the future.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill, which proposes 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. It will come into effect after the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies following the completion of the next population census.
