The bill seeks to reserve one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien Sunday slammed the Centre over the Women's Reservation Bill, accusing the BJP of failing to pass the legislation
Whether reservation for women in Parliament is the right tool for empowerment is a debatable issu
Women members spoke in favour of the legislation after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu allowed short submissions
Members cutting across party lines associated themselves with the demand raised by CPI-M member
Naidu pointed out that reservation of seats for women in Panchayats and Municipalities has proved to be successful
The Congress MP said they had sought time to meet the President and urge him to impress on the government to take steps for the early passage of the bill
New Delhi, 19 SeptemberIn an effort to seize back the political narrative that is slipping away because of steep oil prices, lack of job growth and economic downturn, the Narendra Modi government is mulling bringing the women's reservation Bill in the winter session of Parliament.The Bill provides for reserving a third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, including in the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Bill has had a tortuous history. It was first introduced in 1996, and lapsed thrice with the dissolution of the respective Lok Sabhas. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA2 regime. Its passage in the Lok Sabha was resisted by allies of the Congress. But unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha is a continuous House and the Bill is pending with the House.Sources said a final decision is yet to be taken but consultations are on and the leadership is keen to build on the Prime Minister's 'Beti .
The bill was passed in Rajya Sabha in 2010 but subsequently lapsed following the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha
Narendra Modi said 'we must think beyond women's development' and move towards 'women-led development'
Law Minister said before bringing a bill for amendment before Parliament, issue involved needs careful consideration