Odisha assembly passes resolution seeking 33% reservation for women in state assemblies

  • | Tuesday | 20th November, 2018

The members of the assembly have unanimously passed a resolution giving 33 per cent reservation to women in the assemblies and the parliament. He further said it would have been better had the resolution introduced earlier.Sources said the assembly secretariat would forward the resolution to the Centre. Biju Babu was the true champion of women’s empo… https://t.co/EPEfjcKE1l — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) 1542724954000BHUBANESWAR: The state assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution seeking 33 percent reservation for women in legislative assemblies and the Parliament.The resolution was earlier moved by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the assembly, who urged all parties to extend their support and adopt the resolution unanimously.“Today is a historic day. “But what is the necessity to move a resolution in a hurry when the legislation is pending before the Parliament,” he asked.BJP legislator Pradip Purohit said his party supported the resolution. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in our constitution.

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in our constitution. Biju Babu was the true champion of women’s empo… https://t.co/EPEfjcKE1l — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) 1542724954000 BHUBANESWAR: The state assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution seeking 33 percent reservation for women in legislative assemblies and the Parliament.The resolution was earlier moved by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the assembly, who urged all parties to extend their support and adopt the resolution unanimously.“Today is a historic day. The members of the assembly have unanimously passed a resolution giving 33 per cent reservation to women in the assemblies and the parliament. This will empower the women of our state to a great extent,” Naveen told reporters after the resolution was passed.The chief minister’s move came at a time when the Women’s Reservation Bill or the Constitution (108th amendment) Bill is pending before the parliament.As the women in Odisha are considered as the major support base behind successive electoral victory of the Naveen Patnaik government, the decision seems to be an attempt to further galvanize his image among women voters.At present, the Odisha assembly has 12 women legislators including 11 from BJD and one from BJP.“New Odisha will move forward with much greater momentum, only if half of our population, our mothers and daughters have a role in the highest decision-making bodies of our state and our country. Odisha must show its commitment and its resolve to the entire nation that it is the land where women are truly empowered and truly involved in nation building,” Naveen said while moving the resolution.Stating that women empowerment is very close to his heart, the chief minister said no household, no society, no state, no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women.In 1992, Naveen’s father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik brought women to the realm of political decision by providing 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies. It was raised to 50 per cent by Naveen in 2011.“In fact, it’s heartening to know that in real numbers it’s much more than 50 percent,” Naveen said.Citing example of Mamata Padhiami, a tribal girl from Malkangiri, on whose request Naveen enhanced assistance from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and Jayanti Ekka, a tribal self-help group leader from Sundargarh, Naveen said, “From Malkangiri to Sundergarh-- we witness the new Odisha. An Odisha with lakhs of Mamata Padhiamis and Jayanti Ekka.”“This bold, aspirational and new Odisha has voices - voices which must be heard across Panchayats, Legislative Assemblies and the Parliament,” he added.Commenting on the issue, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra said his party supports 33 per cent reservation for women. “But what is the necessity to move a resolution in a hurry when the legislation is pending before the Parliament,” he asked.BJP legislator Pradip Purohit said his party supported the resolution. He further said it would have been better had the resolution introduced earlier.Sources said the assembly secretariat would forward the resolution to the Centre.

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