The Lok Sabha recently passed two significant Bills aimed at enhancing women’s representation and involvement in political processes. This move comes as part of the extension of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, which mandates a 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures. These provisions have now been extended to the Union Territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Introduction of Two New Bills
As an initiative to foster greater participation of women in politics, the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha – the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023. These legislations are crucial stepping stones toward increasing representation of women in decision-making roles.
Empowering Women in Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a key instrument designed to ensure higher representation of women in the legislative assemblies of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a significant stride towards acknowledging and appreciating the potential of women leaders in contributing to the state’s socio-economic development.
Enabling Greater Representation in Puducherry
Similarly, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 plays a major role in extending the benefits of reservation to women in Puducherry. However, the amendment of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 is required to officially establish reservations for women in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. This move will ensure that women get equal opportunities to represent their constituencies and play an active role in the law-making process.
Women Reservation Act, 2023 – Promoting Gender Equality in Politics
The Women Reservation Act, 2023 is a milestone legislation that aims at promoting gender equality in political participation. By reserving 33% of seats in Parliament and State legislatures for women, the Act seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in politics and encourage more women to step into the sphere of public leadership.
Overall, these measures seek to break down barriers for women’s participation and level the playing field, thus helping create more balanced and representative political structures. By introducing these bills, the Lok Sabha has taken a significant step towards empowering women and ensuring their greater involvement in political processes.