Despite the pandemonium and some shameful scenes in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) atlast the women's reservation bill has cleared the first hurdle.The bill has been passed(191 for and one against) with almost the entire house supporting it. Yet all is not over.
With the passing of the bill Rajya Sabha took a historic and giant step to amend the constitution providing one-third reservation of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women. Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh described the passing of the bill as "momentous in the long journey in the empowerment of women".Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley observed that one-third reservation for women in the parliament and state assemblies was the best option in the present global scenario.Jayanti Natarajan who headed the parliamentary standing committee for scrutinizing the bill and Congress spokesperson said that the legislation is a step forward after the reservation of seats for women in Panchayats and local bodies. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat observed that with the passing of this bill a beginning has been made to put an end to the tendency of proxy politics in a male dominated society .She added that the experience of reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies has been very encouraging.UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, expressed that her happiness at the passage of the bill knew no bounds. It was like a long drawn dream of her husband Rajiv Gandhi being realized.
The bill is now on to the lok sabha.Almost all political parties agree that the task to get woman's reservation bill approved would be far more difficult than it was in the Rajya Sabha. The three yadav leaders Mulayam Singh,Lalu and Sharad constitute the toughest opposition to the legislation in the house-.Trinamool congress who abstained from voting in the Rajya Sabha They may still abstain in lok sabha too.
If we go by what UPA chairperson said in an interview to a reputed T.V.News channel,she hoped that all differences within the UPA allies -specially the TMC and outside supporters like S.P.,RJD,BSP will be sorted out amicably and with a consensus on all issues of dispute. She further asserted that neither the UPA govt. nor the UPA alliance is in any crisis nor an occasion would arise when the Yadav troika would move a no confidence motion against UPA govt.during discussion on the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.
Even after the bill is hopefully passed by the lok sabha it has to be ratified by atleast 50% of the state assemblies with 2/3rd majority of their respective legislatures. There are in all 25 state assemblies where it may be smooth sailing for the bill.The states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan,Gujarat,Karnataka,Himanchal,M.P,
Haryana,Orissa,Assam,Delhi,Chhattisgarh,Meghalaya,Arunachal,Maharashtra,West Bengal,Nagaland,Mizoram,Kerala,Tripura,Tamilnadu,Goa,Uttarakhand,Punjab and Sikkim.The scenario in J&K,Jharkhand,Manipur is hazy.U.P is out of question.
Since clearance is only needed in l5 states there may not be a problem unless the present political calculations get upset.The last hurdle would be the implementation part of the bill when it takes the shape of an enactment after the President's assent.One can only hope that all these hurdles will be crossed over without falling in between.Then only the wild rejoicing by the women of the country would be real and meaningful.Till then the hurdle race for the Women's Reservation bill is on !
Krishna Chander Mouli(The writer a freelancer , is a former Director Public Relations,Communication Advisor,G.M.Media and presently teaching media courses.accessible at kcmouli37@gmail.com)
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
