In a significant milestone for gender equality in Indian politics, the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament, has passed the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023. Rajya Sabha, on Thursday passed the Women’s Reservation Bill with all the 215 members voting in favour of the bill.
The bill, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha for discussion on Thursday, aims to allocate one-third of seats in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to women. Before reaching Rajya Sabha, the legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support in Lok Sabha , with 454 members voting in favor and only two opposing it after an extensive eight-hour debate involving 60 members.
The bill’s introduction in the Rajya Sabha comes after a resounding endorsement in the Lok Sabha, marking the first legislative victory in the newly inaugurated Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present during the historic vote.
However, it’s worth noting that Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel, representing the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), voted against the bill in Lok Sabha. AIMIM opposed the legislation, citing its failure to provide a sub-quota for Muslim and Other Backward Classes (OBC) women.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill of 2023 gained approval following a response to the motion by Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Notably, each clause of the bill underwent a separate vote, with Speaker Om Birla announcing the successful passage of the legislation.
This landmark bill, officially titled the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,’ underscores India’s commitment to gender equality in politics. Its passage through the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha mark a significant step forward in empowering women and increasing their representation in the country’s decision-making bodies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill’s journey through the parliamentary process signifies a momentous achievement in India’s democratic history and a testament to the collective efforts of lawmakers to promote gender equality in governance.
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