The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Lok sabha in the new Parliament House today by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier made a pitch for ‘women-led development’. He also talked about the history of the women’s reservation Bill, and previous attempts to introduce and pass it by various governments.
“On this historic occasion in the new Parliament building, as the first proceeding of the House, the beginning of all the Parliamentarians opening gateways for women power is being done with this crucial decision. Taking forward our resolve for women-led development, our government is bringing an important constitutional amendment bill,” PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha.
“The bill is aimed at expanding the membership of women in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ will further empower our democracy,” Modi further said.
“Discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill happened for a long time. During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime, the Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced several times, but there was not enough majority to pass the bill, and because of this, this dream remained incomplete,” the PM added.
“Today, God has given me the opportunity to take this forward…Our government is bringing a new bill today on women’s participation in both Houses,” Modi added.
The 128th Amendment Bill 2023 says, “Seats shall be reserved for women in the House of the People. As nearly as may be, one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (2) of Article 330 shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes’.
“As nearly as may be, one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the House of the People shall be reserved for women,” the bill adds.
On the issue of reserving seats for women in the state assemblies, the legislation says that one-third of the total number of seats will be reserved for women from the SC/ST category.
The bill says that rotation of seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha, state assemblies and Delhi assembly shall take effect after each subsequent delimitation exercise “as the Parliament by law may determine”.
