Demanding immediate passage of the long-pending the Women's Reservation Bill, women activists today said thought the issue found place in poll manifestos of multiple parties it has hardly been discussed since the new government took charge.
"It may seem paradoxical, but it is true to say that the political leadership in a country which registers the highest number of maternal deaths, high cases of violence against women and serious evils like female foeticide continues to remain averse to women's participation in politics and governance," said Ranjana Kumari, women activist and Director, Centre for Social Research.
Annie Raja, Head of National Federation of Indian Women, said, "It is extremely critical that women's political participation becomes a reality, not just a political rhetoric, if we are serious about building a nation where women thrive and feel safe and respected."
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The 21-year journey of the Women's Reservation Bill has hit roadblocks in each of its outings in Parliament before it cleared the first legislative barrier in 2010.
The activists argued that the data shows that there are only 96 women representatives in both houses of parliament in India.
"India ranks 103rd in the Women in Parliament study. In the Lok Sabha, out of the 543 members, only 65 are women. In the Rajya Sabha on the other hand, there are only 31 female MPs among 243 members," an activist said.
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