The Hindu : National : Women’s organisations press for Bill

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Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
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Women’s organisations press for Bill

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Nine women’s organisations on Wednesday demanded that the government introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament without further delay.

In a statement, the women’s organisations said they felt “deeply betrayed by the utter failure” of the UPA government to even list the Bill for introduction in the current session “leave alone ensuring its discussion and passage.”

Referring to numerous public statements made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in this regard, the women’s organisations pointed out: “While many other contentious legislation have been passed in the last three-and-a-half years of the UPA in power, the ‘consensus’ excuse has been used time and again to delay this Bill.”

India lagged behind many neighbouring countries vis-À-vis the representation of women in legislatures. Pakistan had 22 per cent reservation in Parliament and Nepal had planned to give 33 per cent in the forthcoming elections.

The joint statement was issued by, among others, the All-India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Indian Women, All-India Women’s Conference, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Guild of Service, Joint Women’s Programme, and Young Women’s Christian Association.

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