People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXXIII

No. 27

July 05, 2009

Women�s Organisations Express Concern Over Reservation Bill

All India Democratic Women�s Association, All India Women�s Conference, Centre for Women�s Development Studies, Joint Women�s Programme, Guild of Service, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, National Federation Of Indian Women, Muslim Women�s Forum and Young Women�s Christian Association of India have jointly issued the following statement on July 2, 2009:

THE above mentioned national women�s organisations had welcomed the assurance made by the president in the joint session of parliament on June 4, 2009 that passage of the 33 per cent Women�s Reservation Bill was a top priority, and would be accomplished within 100 days of the UPA regime. However, we note with disappointment that the business items listed for the budget session beginning today carries no mention of the bill. The assurance given by the president on the floor of the House has already been belied.

We express concern about the delay in submitting recommendations to parliament by the standing committee chairperson (also a Congress MP), due to which the bill is now pending with the committee. It is necessary to overcome all possible impediments that may arise to sabotage the bill. We urge the UPA government to display the political will to ensure the passage of this long pending legislation without any further delay.