BJP will support women's bill in Lok Sabha: Sushma Swaraj

Senior leader says in local bodies and panchayats of the BJP-ruled states, the reservation for women has been raised to 50% from 33%

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj Tuesday asked the UPA government to bring the women's reservation bill to the Lok Sabha, assuring that her party will support the landmark legislation reserving one-third of seats in the lower house and assemblies for women.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the party will support the womens' bill, and get it passed as it did in the Rajya Sabha.

She was speaking at a panel discussion after releasing a report on "Challenges for Women in Modern India in Workplace and Society", by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Stressing the need of political empowerment for women, Swaraj said: "As far as political empowerment is concerned, it is the real empowerment because it provides authority. I often say that doctor or an IT professional may not have the same power as that of a female peon of a lady superintendent of police."

She noted that in local bodies and panchayats of the states ruled by the BJP governments, the reservation for women has been raised to 50% from 33%.

Swaraj also condemned the practice of female foeticide and said that it prevails despite a legislation against it, due to the prevalence of prejudices in the society.

The key finding of the report suggests that despite all the challenges, women are handling various problems by turning to the field of entrepreneurship where they can control their environment.

The report suggested that the women should be aware of their rights and educating them is one of the effective solutions to the challenges faced by them in their families, workplaces and society at large.

"In India, promoting girl education, especially at higher level, is the need of the hour and would certainly bring positive changes to the society in terms of growth and progress. Government as well as private sector needs to focus on girl education in terms of access, schooling, teaching facilities, enrolments and retentions," said Assocham secretary general D.S.Rawat.