India working for 1/3rd reservation for women in Parliament: Sumitra Mahajan

GENEVA (SWITZERLAND): Lok Sabha SpeakSumitra Mahajaner today said India is pro-actively working for providing one-third reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.

In her address at the 131st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva on 'Achieving Gender Equality, Ending Violence Against Women', she said India being a pioneer in extending adult franchise to its women, is pro-actively working for providing one-third reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, said a statement.

Indian laws and policies have helped in creating a conducive environment for empowering women economically and socially, she added.

Mahajan said "women are the unwavering pillars of society and the worth of any civilisation can be judged from the position it gives to women."

She impressed upon the need to join hands together to eliminate all forms of gender-based inequalities and violence for sustainable peace and prosperity in our societies.

While appreciating the noble initiatives of the IPU member countries, she observed that the real need is to change the traditional mind-set and to treat women as equal humans.

She said that National Parliaments are people's supreme representative bodies and most appropriate institutions to help in uplifting the status of women, the statement added.