×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

MP to revive talk on Women's Reservation Bill

Last Updated 31 July 2016, 19:30 IST

The Women’s Reservation Bill may be on the back-burner for parties now, but an actor-turned-BJD MP is planning to revive the debate on the issue.

Anubhav Mohanty, a first-time MP from Odisha, is moving a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking reservation for women in legislature, judiciary and executive.

 The Bill was listed for introduction on July 22 but uproar over special status for Andhra Pradesh washed away the proceedings and Mohanty now hopes to move the legislation next Friday.

 Among the demands in Mohanty’s bill are earmarking 33% quota for women in Parliament and Assemblies and legislative backing for adequate representation in the  judiciary, Finance Commission and Election Commission.

The bill also wants the prime minister to have women in 33% of ministerial berths while in states, it should be 40%. It also wants a similar quota for judges in the Supreme Court, high courts and lower judiciary.

 “Women still remain socially neglected and economically dependent on others. They are educationally backward and an exploited lot. This bill is an initiative to address their concerns,” Mohanty, whose latest release was an Odiya movie Agastya, told DH.  Asked why he wanted quota in judiciary, he said: “Despite being most suitable, no woman has ever occupied the office of either the vice president of India or the Chief Justice of India.”

With men cornering most of the gubernatorial posts, the Bill also envisages that a woman should be appointed governor of state for alternate term.

“In government services also the representation of women is abysmally low as compared to men.  It is below twenty percent and in reserved categories, the representation of women is negligible,” the Bill said.

 He also took a dig at political parties who swear on uplifting women but give tickets only to male candidates. "The representation of women in legislature, executive and judiciary is abysmally low," he said.

 Not to forget his roots, Mohanty is also working on another private member's bill demanding pension for elderly actors and junior artistes.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 31 July 2016, 19:30 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT