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33% quota: AIDWA observes protest day

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) observed Friday — the 99th day of the government’s announcement on the Women’s Reservation Bill — as a protest day against the non-fulfilment of ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in State Assemblies and Parliament.

“The President assured the country on June 4 that the Women’s Reservation Bill would be passed within 100 days. We are observing the 99th day of this announcement by the government to mark the launch of intensified struggles by the AIDWA in the coming days,” the association said.

On Saturday, AIDWA will observe protests all over the country in various ways. “We will be sending reminders to Governors as well as telegrams to the President of India,” it said.

The association on Friday launched a “Count-Down Public Calendar on 33%,” which will keep count of each passing day of the 100-day announcement at its central office close to Parliament House so that elected representatives can be reminded of their commitment to the women of the country.

While the Cabinet has approved 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats, its failure to ensure 33 per cent reservation in the Assemblies and Parliament is reminiscent of a similar phase in the early 1990s when it passed the 33 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies but refused to do the same in other elected legislatives since then, AIDWA said.

The association impressed upon the government to put the Women’s Reservation Bill to vote in Parliament as it had the requisite numbers.

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