Women’s groups demand immediate passage of Women’s Reservation Bill

Landmark State Consultation in Mumbai on Women’s Reservation Bill lists key action points for women leaders and participants

Mumbai, 27^th August 2019: India ranks 148^th out of 190 countries in political participation of women and continues to rank 3^rdlowest in the world in health and survival of women. (Source: Inter-Parliamentary Unit). Despite some improvements, sex selection, child marriage, and a low female workforce participation rate make women a vulnerable population, Globally, India ranks 20^th from the bottom in women’s representation in Parliament. Out of 543 MPs that have been elected in the 17^th LokSabha Elections only 78 are women. (Source: Association of Democratic Reforms). Such dismal statistics regarding the situation of women in India points to the need for greater women’s representation in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. Unfortunately, the Women’s Reservation Bill which has the potential to transform this adverse gender ratio in Indian politics and governance has been pending for more than two decades.

Centre for Social Research with support from Resource and Support Centre for Development organized a landmark consultation in Mumbai today with the primary goal of creating numerous women leaders who will bring gender parity in governance, and thereby address critical women’s rights issues in the country.

The consultation listed the following goals for the participants and groups members: i) Get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the national and state legislatures; ii) Ensure that 50% tickets are provided to female candidates for contesting the election, iii) Increase political representation of women in the internal affairs of political parties, iv) Ensure increase in gender budget for women’s health and safety, and v) Ensure that 1/2 seats in all internal committees of political parties are reserved for women. The consultation also saw women leaders and experts discuss the above pertinent issues with students of SNDT Women’s College, Mumbai, local and SHG women leaders.

The participants in Mumbai’s state consultation included Professor Dr. Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor, SNDT Arts College, Dr. Manisha Kayande, Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ms. Varsha Bhosale, BJP, Ms. Neela Limaye, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr. Bhim Raskar, Resource and Support Centre for Development (RSCD), Advocate Ms. Ujjwala Kadrekar, Ms. Jyoti Mhapsekhar, Stree Mukti Sangathan and Ms. Gayatri Sharma from Centre for Social Research and Women Power Connect.

The Women’s Reservation Bill (WRB), The Constitution 108^th Amendment Bill 2008, is the longest pending bill in the history of independent India. The Bill proposes to reserve a minimum of 33% seats for women in Parliament and in State Legislative Assemblies. The Bill was first introduced in Parliament 23 years ago and has not yet been converted into an Act due to negligence from all successive governments and strong opposition from various political parties in the past as well as strong patriarchal norms prevailing in our society.

Centre for Social Research has conducted various programs at the State level, including in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh to spread awareness on the Women Reservation Bill and gather support for its passage in the Parliament.