Sign in Subscribe
Legislative bills

Women Legislators in Meghalaya Welcome Women's Reservation Bill

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Women legislators in the matrilineal state of Meghalaya on Tuesday welcomed the Women's Reservation Bill, which seeks to provide 33% quota for women in Parliament and state assemblies. The bill, introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, aims to increase women's representation in the country's legislative bodies. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has expressed full support for the move towards women empowerment in the country, stating that a meeting would be called to take a decision to pass it in the State Assembly.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Women's Reservation Bill, also known as 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', seeks to provide 33% quota for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
  • If passed, Meghalaya, a unicameral legislature with a total strength of 60 members, would have to reserve at least 19 Assembly seats for women.
  • Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, the lone woman cabinet minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has expressed her enthusiasm for the bill, stating that it is "time for our women to start gearing themselves up to come and sit in the August House and debate on important issues of the state".
  • Lyngdoh has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues for passing the women's reservation bill, which has been hanging for nearly three decades.
  • Santa Mary Shylla, a member of the National People's Party (NPP), has hailed the legislation as a "historic day for women folks across the country".
  • Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has expressed full support for the move, stating that it is a "great move towards women empowerment in the country".

Statistics:

  • 60: The total number of members in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
  • 33%: The quota specified for women in Parliament and state assemblies under the bill.
  • 20: The number of women MLAs that Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh hopes to see in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
  • 19: The minimum number of Assembly seats that would have to be reserved for women in Meghalaya if the bill is passed.
  • 4: The number of consecutive times that Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh has been elected to the Meghalaya Assembly.
  • 2023: The year the Women's Reservation Bill was listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha.

Sources:

  • UNI RRK KK
  • United News of India

Read more