Vice President’s Remarks Spark Discussion On Women’s Quota In Special Session

New Delhi: The long-pending bill aiming to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women has received a significant boost following Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s positive statements on Monday. He expressed confidence that the day is approaching when women will achieve due representation in India’s legislatures. Although the legislation had been successfully passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it subsequently lapsed as the Lok Sabha did not clear it.

The Vice President’s remarks have sparked widespread speculation that the women’s reservation bill might finally make its way during the special parliamentary session scheduled from September 18-22. The official agenda for this session is yet to be disclosed.

On Tuesday, K Kavitha, a Telangana MLC and the daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, took a proactive step by writing a letter to the presidents of all 47 political parties represented in parliament. She called upon them to set aside political differences and prioritize the passage of the bill in the forthcoming special session.

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The history of the bill traces back to 1996 when the Deve Gowda government first introduced the idea of reserving 33% of seats for women. The UPA government later rekindled this initiative with the official name “Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill” in 2008. While it successfully passed the Rajya Sabha in 2010, the 15th Lok Sabha could not pass the bill, and it lapsed following its dissolution in 2014. Some parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, have voiced their opposition to the bill in its current form, demanding “a quota within the quota.”

These parties argue that the reservation should extend to include Dalit, backward, extremely backward, and minority communities. An RJD leader stated that the party would not oppose raising the reservation for women to 50% if it includes a quota for these sections.

Given that the bill requires a constitutional amendment, it will need the support of two-thirds of the members in the Lok Sabha. It was a part of the BJP’s election manifesto in 2014, and its passage is expected to help the party consolidate the votes of women.

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Speaking at an event on “Women’s Participation in Nation Building” in Jaipur on Monday, Vice President Dhankhar expressed optimism that India could become a global powerhouse before 2047 if this reservation is granted soon. He noted that women are breaking barriers in various fields, including administration, the corporate world, and the military.

In her letter on Tuesday, Bharat Rashtra Samithi Leader K Kavitha emphasized that increased women’s representation is essential for creating a more equitable and balanced political landscape. She urged all political parties to recognize the urgency of this matter and support the women’s reservation bill.

In a written reply to a question in July, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha that the women’s reservation bill requires “careful consideration” based on consensus among all political parties before being presented in Parliament. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal reiterated the government’s commitment to gender justice.

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Back in March, the Congress had called on the BJP to clarify its stance on the bill and demanded its introduction in the Lok Sabha. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, but Vice President Dhankhar’s words have rejuvenated hope for its eventual passage.