Date:07/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050760291200.htm

National

Mayawati for 50 % quota

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has extended her support to the Women’s Reservation Bill, tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with the rider that there should be no quota within quota. Ms. Mayawati suggested that instead of 33 per cent reservation, provision should be made for granting women 50 per cent reservation keeping in view their proportion in the country’s population.

Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told newspersons that the Chief Minister’s view reflected the State government’s stand that political participation should be in tune with the population of that particular section of the society. Since women constituted half of the country’s population, Ms. Mayawati preferred 50 per cent quota for them, Mr. Singh said.

‘Must benefit all women’

While supporting 33 per cent reservation for women, Ms. Mayawati said the benefit of reservation should accrue to all sections of women for which necessary amendments should be made in the Bill document.