NEW DELHI : Women in the Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, today called for their empowerment in society and hoped for an early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. On the Women’s Day, female members from all parties said real empowerment of women in the country would come only when they have a say in their families.
Speaking during Zero Hour, Najma Hepatulla of the BJP hoped that the Bill to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament would be soon cleared. ”I hope that this year, we will seen the passage of the Women’s Bill in Parliament,” Ms Hepatulla said, expressing happiness that more women are now coming in legislatures. Calling for a greater say for women in families, she said, ”The day women are given a say in family matters will be the day when they will be empowered in the true sense.”
Viplove Thakur of the Congress, expressing concern over the continued prevalence of child marriage in the country, pointed out that there was a district where 85 per cent of marriages are child marriages.
Rajni Patil of the Congress recalled late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to women’s empowerment. ”It is due to the late Rajiv Gandhi’s initiative to bring in reservation in Panchayats and local bodies that women like me have been able to rise from the Panchayat level to become members of the Rajya Sabha.
Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure passage of the Bill, she said, ”He should show that this government does not pay mere lip sympathy to women’s empowerment.” (AGENCIES)
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