Women constitute nearly half of the population of India, and yet their representation in politics remains abysmally low. In an attempt to improve the gender balance in the state legislative assemblies and to increase the political participation of women, the Uttarakhand government recently passed the Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill.
Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill
The Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill is a historic piece of legislation, as it is the first state in India to reserve seats for women in the state assembly. The bill provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the state legislature, which is the highest quota in the country. The bill passed unanimously in the state assembly, and was signed into law by the Governor on April 30, 2021.
Purpose of the Bill
The main purpose of the Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill is to improve the representation of women in the state legislature. Currently, women constitute only 12.9 per cent of the state assembly, which is far lower than the national average of 15.5 per cent. With this bill, the state hopes to significantly increase the number of women in the assembly, and ensure that women’s voices are heard in the state’s decision-making process.
Impact of the Bill
The Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill is expected to have a significant impact on the political participation of women in the state. It is hoped that the bill will encourage more women to enter politics, and will help to create an atmosphere in which women are seen as equal participants in the political process. Additionally, the bill is expected to lead to an increase in the number of women in leadership positions, thus helping to create a more gender-balanced legislature.
Conclusion
The Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill is a landmark piece of legislation, and a significant step towards improving the representation of women in politics in the state. The bill is expected to have a positive impact on the political participation of women in the state, and to help create an atmosphere in which women’s voices are heard.
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