New Delhi: The Lok Sabha has successfully passed the Women’s Reservation Bill, also known as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,’ with an overwhelming majority of votes. Following the division of votes, the bill secured 454 votes in favor and 2 votes against it. The bill required a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha to pass.
During the debate on the bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the legislation would provide reservation for women across the existing three categories, namely General, SCs (Scheduled Castes), and STs (Scheduled Tribes), under which Members of Parliament are currently elected. Shah further explained that the bill’s implementation would occur soon after the census and delimitation processes following the elections. He emphasized that these exercises would empower women and enhance their representation in Parliament.
Day 3 of the special parliamentary session witnessed discussions on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. At the same time, the Rajya Sabha focused on India’s space journey, particularly Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing on the moon.
The Women’s Reservation Bill aims to establish a 33 percent quota for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing special session of Parliament and subsequently taken up for discussion. The Union Cabinet had approved the Women’s Reservation Bill earlier.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, called for the immediate implementation of the bill and also demanded OBC (Other Backward Classes) reservation to be included in the legislation.
On Tuesday, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha’s first sitting in the new Parliament building. It is worth noting that the bill was first tabled by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government in the Rajya Sabha in 2008, and it was passed in 2010. However, the bill was never considered for discussion in the Lok Sabha.