Hopeful of consensus on Women Reservation Bill, says Khurshid

The Government is hopeful that a consensus will emerge among political parties on the contentious Women Reservation Bill, seeking 33 per cent reservation for them in Parliament and state legislatures.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said this today while inaugurating a special training programme in Parliamentary processes and procedures for Parliamentary officers from Arabic speaking countries here.
The Union minister made the remarks while referring to the country's rich experience in strengthening the local bodies, saying it has resulted in transforming the lives of people in the far corners of the country.
Noting that there is a Constitutional provision for reservation for women in these bodies, which has led to a large number of women occupying leadership position, Khurshid hoped that "a consensus would emerge among political parties in India in providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures as well," a press release from Lok Sabha said.

On this occasion, Khurshid also said that the Arab spring had ushered in a fresh wave of democracy in the countries of Middle-East, which has necessitated the process of institutional building and manpower training so as to effectively run the representative bodies in those countries.
The training programme is being organised by Lok Sabha Secretariat here from April 15 to April 26 and 15 participants from seven countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia are taking part in it.