the goan I network
MARGAO
Mahila Congress led by President Pratima Coutinho and South district president Savitri Kavlekar on Tuesday called on the South Goa District Collector Anjali Sehrawat to demand 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and in the State legislatures.
The delegation submitted a memorandum demanding introduction of a Bill during the winter session of Parliament to ensure 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State legislatures.
Coutinho recalled that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had demanded on September 20, 2017 asking the government to use its majority in the Lok Sabha to introduce and pass the bill with the assurance of support from the Indian National Congress. However, on an issue that affects the rights of 586 million women in India. The government is silent on the issue of 33 per cent reservation for women in both Parliament and State legislatures. The introduction of the Bill during the winter session of 2017 is imperative to ensure the reservation is in place for the next general elections as there is substantial work envisaged by the Bill," Coutinho said.
She pointed out that in the absence of response from the government, a petition has been submitted to the President of India with the request to expedite the introduction of the bill.
"Our nation's commitment to women's equality will be judged on the basis of the action of the government on this crucial Bill," she said, adding that it was late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was instrumental in giving 33 per cent reservation for women at the grassroot bodies such as Zilla Panchayats, panchayats and municipalities.
