Cabinet Decides to Reserve 50 % Seats for Women in Panchayats

The Union Cabinet has taken a decision to go for 50 percent reservation of seats for women in all rural panchayats and a bill to this is likely to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.

After the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said, “The Cabinet has approved the amendment of Article 243 D of the constitution to reserve 50 percent of the total number of seats in panchayats filled by direct election for women.”

According to official sources, a proposed legislation for the purpose is likely to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament.

It may be mentioned that a bill that provides for 33 percent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies is pending and could not be passed because of opposition from several regional parties.