Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Monday that the day is not far when women will get ‘adequate’ representation in Parliament and legislative assemblies through a constitutional amendment which will make India “number one” even before 2047.

“I can tell you that the day is not far when in India, in the Parliament and State Assemblies, women will have adequate representation with appropriate amendments to the Constitution. We will be a global power by 2047 but if this reservation takes place early, we will be number 1 even before 2047,” the VP said.

Dhankhar made the remarks while participating in a dialogue programme on the topic of “Women’s Participation in Nation Building” with the students of the Maharani Mahavidyalaya, affiliated to the Rajasthan University.

“As far as the Constitution is concerned, I want you girls to note – in Panchayats and Municipalities – in all elections girls and women have one-third reservation. This reservation is very significant,” he added.

Dhankar also questioned the word “Chairman” in the Constitution for not being gender inclusive. “When our Constitution was made, the word ‘Chairman’ was used. By virtue of being the Vice-President of the country and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, I can say that a woman can also hold this post. But the Constitution says ‘Chairman’,” he said.

Mentioning that this practice was changed under his leadership, in the Rajya Sabha, the VP said, “When we take any man or woman in the panel, who sits on my chair and runs the House, we do not call him Chairman, we say, Panel of Vice-Chairperson.”

He further asked women to take their own decisions and become financially self-reliant. “Do not copy men, they are not better than you, keep yourselves original,” he added.