The Hindu : National : Women's groups put UPA Government on notice

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Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

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Women's groups put UPA Government on notice

Special Correspondent

Three-day dharna from today; campaign will spread to entire country

NEW DELHI: Not in a mood to brook any more opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill, 10 national women's organisations have issued "notice" to the United Progressive Alliance Government saying they will not tolerate any further delay in its passage. Led by the CPI (M)-backed All-India Democratic Women's Association, members of these groups will sit in dharna here for three days from Tuesday to `compel' the Government to push the legislation, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the State Assemblies and Parliament. If the demand is not fulfilled, the campaign will intensify and spread to all parts of the country.

The participants in the dharna will be: All India Women's Conference, Centre for Women's Development Studies, Forum for Rights of Children, Guild of Service, Joint Women's Programme, Muslim Women's Forum, National Federation of Indian Women, SAMA and Young Women's Christian Association.

The groups say there should be no further postponement of the Bill in the guise of "consensus" as there is a positive change in the stance of some UPA partners.

The Bill, pending before Parliament for 10 years, has not been included in the list of business for the monsoon session. "And we, the women's organisations, who have been fighting consistently for its passage, understand that without widening and intensifying the struggle, the Bill is never going to see the light of day," says their appeal to the people.

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