Assam moves resolution seeking women’s quota in Parl, assemblies

Guwahati: Assam govt on Monday moved a resolution in the House to seek one-third reservation for women in the Parliament and all assemblies with immediate effect, following completing delimitation. The resolution will be discussed in the House on Tuesday and is set to be passed.

State women and child welfare minister Ajanta Neog, while moving the resolution, said it was a historic occasion for the House. Neog said she was hopeful of overwhelming support for the resolution. “Political will is necessary to implement one-third reservation for women,” the minister added, lauding those NDA-ruled states that have already passed the resolution.

Last month, the Madhya Pradesh assembly passed a similar resolution seeking reservation of one-third of the legislative assembly immediately after the conclusion of a delimitation exercise.

“This House is of the opinion that, in order to honour women’s power and ensure the holistic development and empowerment of women, one-third reservation for women in the Parliament and in all legislative assemblies should be implemented with immediate effect, after completing the process of delimitation,” read the resolution moved by Neog.

She said women have long held respected positions in religious texts and were worshipped, but added that political and social will is needed to take women ahead. “Around 50% of the population of our society are women. So it is the duty of the state to take women forward — politically, socially and educationally,” she said.

Neog said women’s role in political affairs has not been as strong as expected. “In the entire world, women have not been able to march ahead on par with men so far as political rights of women are concerned,” she added. She also pointed to social and educational factors that have limited women’s empowerment.