New Delhi/Shimla; Both houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, have passed the historic Women Reservation Bill- "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023." This landmark legislation paves the way for providing reservations for women in both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections
However, this new legislation face road blocks that may postpone its implementation by five to six years due to the pending caste and population census, which was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The implementation of the Women Reservation Bill also hinges on the formation of a Delimitation Commission to allocate seats for women, as outlined in the new law.
Notably, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized these delays, demanding immediate implementation of women's reservations in the political arena, dismissing the need for further postponement.
The primary reason for this delay is the absence of updated data regarding the percentage of women in various caste groups, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes, and the male-female ratio across the country. Consequently, this legislation is likely to remain dormant for the next five to six years.
The Women Reservation Bill had garnered support from almost all political parties, transcending party lines, marking a significant step foward.
This legislation had been pending for over two decades. Previously, it was passed in the Lok Sabha in 2010 during the UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh but failed to clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle.
The BJP contends that the initiative for the Women Reservation Bill was originally launched during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government's tenure at the center. However, it faced impediments in the Rajya Sabha due to the BJP's lack of majority.
National President Jagat Prakash Nadda hailed the passage of the legislation as a new beginning in the newly constructed Parliament House under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
He emphasized that this move marks the nation's commitment to a new era of women's empowerment.
Nadda asserted that women have already proven their mettle across various fields and should now actively participate in the legislative process to contribute to the nation's growth.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in New Delhi, urging the Modi government to expedite the caste-based census and implement the Women Reservation Bill immediately.
He accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from this critical issue and stressed that there is no reason for further delay in providing women their rightful reservations.
