Page 154 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian Years of Indian

Constitution
Constitution

Unless a country fully emancipates its
hence lapsed.
Though from time to time objections to the Bill have been women and break the traditional bonds of
raised to stall the enactment reserving seats to women it patriarchy it can never aspire to develop to
cannot be denied that there has been a historical social its fullest potential. Women need to be given
exclusion of women from polity due to various social and their appropriate place in Indian Politics.
cultural reasons and meaningful empowerment of women
can be achieved only with adequate participation by women
enough consultations over the past on the contentious
in legislative bodies. Women comprise half the population
issues in providing reservation of seats in legislatures and
of citizens in the country and reservation of seats for women
Parliament. Women of India have carried enormous burden
is a valid and necessary strategy to enhance women's
on their shoulders in shaping our new India. They have
participation in the decision/policy making process.
suffered enough. Reservation of seats in legislatures and
Representation of women in legislatures is critical to the
Parliament will empower women and address many of the
nation building process.
ills which are plaguing women of our country. Reservation
Unless a country fully emancipates its women and breaks
of seats in Panchayats and municipal bodies has proved
the traditional bonds of patriarchy it can never aspire to
that women can play an important role in Governance.
develop to its fullest potential. Women need to be given
What is good for Panchayats is good for legislatures
their appropriate place in Indian Politics.
and the Parliament. Time has come to recognize their
Though women were granted voting rights when we
role in the nation building. Since all major political
adopted the Constitution yet have not been able to attain
parties have committed in their Political Manifestos to
adequate and proportionate representation in Lok Sabha
bring amendments to the constitution to provide for
and in state legislative assemblies and as a result India`s
reservation to Women, it is time for all the political parties
ranking in Women in Parliament world ranking even 70
and other stake holders to cooperate in the enactment
years after the adoption of our Constitution, is far behind at
of this landmark legislation. There cannot be a better
148th position with Rwanda leading the list at Number one
New Year gift to women of India than the passing of the
as per the data released by the Inter Parliamentary Union.
long pending amendment to the Constitution providing
India is a great democracy and we are capable of sinking
for seats to women in legislatures and Parliament in the
all differences and reach consensus on issues which are
ensuing winter session of Parliament,.
crucial to the progress of our nation. There have been

T. K. Viswanathan, a Padma Shri awardee, was the Secretary General of the 15th Lok Sabha
Secretariat. He served as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Law &Justice
and played crucial role in the drafting of important legislations like the Information Technology
Act 2000, the Competition Act 2002 and the Right to Information Act 2005.

154 70 Years of Indian Constitution