Modi signals women's quota in Parl, zero tolerance for riots





BJP Has Numbers To Push Through 33% Reservation

Pushed to the backburner for the last four years, the women's reservation bill appears closest to being passed now with the Narendra Modi government expressing its commitment for 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Spelling out the government's agenda in his address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Monday, President Pranab Mukjerjee said, "My government recognizes the important role women play in the development of our society and growth of the nation. It is committed to providing 33% reservation to them in Parliament and legislative assemblies."

While similar resolves for women's quota in legislatures were expressed in the past as well, the fresh pledge sounds credible both because of the BJP's absolute majority in Lok Sabha as well as the near-rout of SP, BSP, JD(U) and RJD who vetoed the implementation.

Stressing that women's welfare will be one of the thrust areas for the new government, Mukherjee announced the launch of a countrywide `Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' (save girl child, teach girl child) campaign to save the girl child and enable her education and prevent crimes against women by strengthening the criminal justice system. He also put the challenge of communal violence on the same footing as terrorism, extremism and crime, stressing that the government would follow a "zero tolerance" approach towards all. "A national plan will be chalked out in consultation with the state governments to effectively curb incidents of communal violence and the challenges posed by left wing extremism," said the President.

The BJP, Congress and Left had joined hands to get the women's reservation bill passed in March 2010 but it has since languished because the UPA government could not get past the resistance of the SP, BSP, JD(U) and the RJD who insisted on reservation for OBCs and Muslims within the larger gender quota.

Though the Modi government can get the bill through the Lok Sabha on its own steam, its task will be made that much easier because of the support from the Congress and Left. In fact, Congress president Sonia Gandhi thumped her desk in approval when the President listed protection of women among priorities of the new government. About the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, the President said, "It will structure a comprehensive scheme, incorporating best practices from states in this regard." The President was speaking against the backdrop of a spate of crimes against women in UP and elsewhere, and he referred to that. "In the recent past, the country has witnessed some gruesome inci

dents of violence against women. The government will have a policy of zero tolerance for violence against women, and will strengthen the criminal justice system for its effective implementation," he said. Mukherjee also said the government will work to ensure that by 2022, every family has a "pucca house with water connection, toilet facilities, 24x7 electricity supply and access".

He also said that the government would set up Lokpal and would spread egovernance. The stated aim to prevent communal violence acquires significance because of the persistent allegations about Modi's handling of the 2002 riots in Gujarat. The PM has denied any wrongdoing, claimed that he was victim of a vilification campaign and was boosted when an inquiry ordered and supervised by the Supreme Court failed to turn up evidence of his complicity.

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