Pass Women's Reservation Bill says Naidu

 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.

The bill seeks to provide 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

At a state-level convention of women's self-help groups (SHGs) , Naidu said, "Women are given reservation in local government bodies. Efforts are on for women's reservation in Parliament. I personally support it."

He said, "I hope all political parties reach a consensus so that women can be given reservation in state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This issue should not be given a political hue," he added.

Naidu said that when women were given reservation in panchayats, many had claimed that it was the woman's husband who was actually ruling.

"However, a change is being witnessed. Women would soon learn to fight for their rights," he said, noting there should be change in the law as well in the mindset.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several sops for women's SHGs.

He said these groups would be exempted from stamp duty on loan documentation as well as get a 3% rebate on interest.

Chouhan said that the state government would open markets for them in all cities and also rent space in major shopping malls to provide selling space for these SHGs.He said that federations comprising a group of SHGs could seek loans of upto Rs 5 crore backed by the government's guarantee.