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Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan on Tuesday expressed support for the Women Reservation Act, stating that the opposition stands in favour of the bill, while also raising concerns over its implementation.
Speaking with ANI, she said that the government has announced several bills in the past but has often failed to take concrete steps to implement them on the ground. Emphasising the need for women's empowerment, Hasan said that empowering women is essential in the current scenario and added that it would also contribute positively to the country's economy. "The government has only announced this bill, and the government announces many bills but does not take any steps to implement them on the ground. There is a need to empower women today... This will also be better for our economy", she said. Earlier, on March 14, Congress had demanded that the central government convene an all-party meeting to discuss the proposed amendment to the Women's Reservation Act and asserted that it should stop "divide and rule politics". Congress MP Jairam Ramesh called for a meeting and urged them to discuss whatever proposal they have. "Congress has told the government to call an All-Party meeting and discuss whatever proposal it has. It should stop divide and rule politics," Ramesh, General Secretary in charge of Communications, told ANI. Ramesh's remarks come ahead of the introduction of the Women's Reservation Act amendment in Parliament, which aims to increase political representation for women in legislative bodies. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, introduces a historic 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha. The legislation rotationally reserves one-third of all seats for women in the Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and in all State Legislative Assemblies, including the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, thus institutionalising representation of women in politics at the highest levels of public decision-making. The act was enacted in September 2023, which sought to enhance women's participation in politics and included specific quotas for SC/ST women within the reserved seats. The Parliament passed the act, marking a historic milestone in its national journey to foster equitable representation of women in public life at all levels of the federal structure. (ANI)
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