India: Landmark Bill on women reservation set to get passed

The centenary of International Women's Day this year on March 8 will be a red-letter day for women's empowerment in India. The Manmohan Singh government seems prepared to get the bill to reserve 33% seats in Parliament and the state legislatures for women passed.

More importantly, the government need not worry about the numbers as the arithmetic has been done by the confident Congress managers. With the Congress, BJP and Left having resolved not to let OBC resistance come in the way of the landmark legislation yet again, and with support pouring in from several quarters, the Constitutional Amendment Bill may be passed on March 8 itself

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi certainly wants her government to accomplish the task on Monday. "I personally attach the highest importance to the women's bill. So many years have passed since Rajivji first unveiled his vision of empowering us women. It is a matter of pride that even though it has taken so long, it is our government that has cleared the legislation in Cabinet. This year, on March 8, is centenary of International Women's Day. What a gift to the women of India if on this important day this historic legislation is introduced and passed," she told members of Congress Parliamentary Party.

The Mandal outfits – Samajwadi party, Janata Dal (United ) and Rashtriya Janata Dal -- along with Bahujan Samaj Party remain determined to oppose the bill on the ground that it does not provide for reservation within the larger women's quota for OBCs.

The BJP also favours swift passage of the bill, while the CPM in the Rajya Sabha business advisory committee argued the bill be put to vote straightaway since it had been discussed ad nauseum over 15 years.

Sonia's address to Congress MPs acted as a spur for government managers to get cracking to mobilize numbers which has to be cleared by a two-thirds majority by both Houses. Dinners are being scheduled as part of the mobilization exercise, while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to invite SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for last-minute talks.

But with support coming on its own, backers of the bill seem to be sitting pretty. Parties which are not part of either UPA or NDA but have pledged their support to the legislation include the BJD, AIADMK, TDP and AGP. Together, they can help the bill go over the hump with ease even in the upper House where the bill is to be introduced but where the combined support of Congress, BJP and the Left falls short of the required number.

Plus, since the regime of the day invariably mops up support of the odd lots -- represented by smaller parties, Independents and unattached (like SP rebels Amar Singh and Jaya Prada) -- women's quota may become a reality.

Going by their track record, Mandal outfits (those who champion the case of backward castes) can try obstructionist tactics to stop the legislation from being passed. RJD chief Lalu Prasad has said that a women's quota bill without an OBC sub-quota was not acceptable. His position was endorsed by SP's Ramgopal Yadav. JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav also stressed that the bill, like 107 others brought earlier to amend the Constitution, must be backed by an all-party consensus. The RJD and SP lack the clout this time to block the bill.

The BSP is yet to announce its final stand. But whether party leader Mayawati abstains or opposes will be just of academic value. Some of the opponents hope that by staying put in the `well' they can stop the passage of the bill. The assumption there is that the House is not supposed to be in order so long as members have not taken their seats. It will be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The UPA lacks simple majority in the Upper House and has to coordinate outside the ruling benches to mop up numbers to pass legislations. The leaders feel that SP and RJD chiefs should be won over than be embittered by being shown as helpless. Taking this point of view, the senior Congress leadership is in touch with them. Union law minister Veerappa Moily will present the bill, to amend the constitution to reserve 33% of seats in Parliament and the state legislatures, in Rajya Sabha, where the Congress enjoys the clear support of 167 MPs in the 245-member House. The Congress and the BJP issued whips asking their MPs to be present in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Left is also expected to do so as a constitution amendment bill has to be passed by a 50% majority of both houses of Parliament.

- Asian Tribune -