Recently, both the Lok Sabha (LS) and Rajya Sabha (RS) passed the Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, also known as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This bill is a significant step forward, reserving one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi assembly. It also includes the seats that are set aside for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures.
What is the Background and Need for this Bill?
Background:
The discussion about the women’s reservation bill has been around since former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s time in 1996. Unfortunately, the bill couldn’t be passed back then because the government didn’t have a majority.
Here’s a quick look at the earlier attempts to reserve seats for women:
– 1996: The first Women Reservation Bill was introduced in Parliament.
– 1998 – 2003: The government tried to present the bill four times, but it didn’t succeed.
– 2009: The bill was tabled again, but it faced protests.
– 2010: The Union Cabinet approved the bill, and it passed in the Rajya Sabha.
– 2014: There were expectations for the bill to be presented in the Lok Sabha.
- Need:
- There are 82 women Member of Parliaments in LS (15.2%) and 31 women in RS(13%).
- While the number has increased significantly since the 1st Lok Sabha (5%) but is still far lower than in many countries.
- According to recent UN Women data, Rwanda (61%), Cuba (53%), Nicaragua (52%) are the top three countries in women representation. Bangladesh (21%) and Pakistan (20%) as well are ahead of India in case of female representation.
- There are 82 women Member of Parliaments in LS (15.2%) and 31 women in RS(13%).
Key features of the Bill
- Reservation for women: The Bill reserves, as nearly as may be, one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This will also apply to the seats reserved for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and states legislatures.
- Commencement of reservation: The reservation will be effective after the census conducted after the commencement of this Bill has been published. Based on the census, delimitation will be undertaken to reserve seats for women. The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years. However, it shall continue till such date as determined by a law made by Parliament.
- Rotation of seats: Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation, as determined by a law made by Parliament.
