The Hindu : Women activists take out rally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 26, 2003

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Women activists take out rally

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 25. Activists of several women's groups today took out a rally here to impress upon the Government the need to push through the Women's Reservation Bill in the current session of Parliament.

The march from Ramlila Ground culminated in a rally at Jantar Mantar where the activists expressed unhappiness over the "failure" of the National Democratic Alliance Government to put the Bill to vote even after the Congress and the Left parties expressed support for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies as envisaged in the Bill.

The All-India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), which spearheaded the rally, said it was the responsibility of the Government to get the Bill passed since it had made the commitment to women when it came to power.

Rejecting the proposal of dual-member constituencies, the activists said that reducing the percentage of reservation would not be accepted as 33 per cent was necessary if there had to be participation in the decision-making. The concept would only reduce women to mere "appendages" or "extras" in the institutions.

In a memorandum addressed to the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the activists sought his intervention in getting the Bill passed. The parties that claimed to be concerned about representation of Other Backward Classes and Muslim women may give the maximum number of tickets to them, the memorandum said.

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