Lok Sabha passes Women Reservation Bill with 454 votes

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha passed the Women’s Reservation Bill on Wednesday evening after eight hours of vigorous debate. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will grant 33% seats to women in the Lower House of Parliament as well as state legislative assemblies.

The bill was passed with 454 members voting in favour of it, with only two opposing it.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, with its roots dating back to the early 1990s when it was first proposed, was introduced by the Narendra Modi government on Tuesday. It aims to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, including Union Territories, for women.

This historic Bill has a long and storied history, with multiple versions introduced and debated over the years. It has faced various obstacles, including political disagreements and opposition from some quarters.

The Bill is now set to progress to the Rajya Sabha before reaching President Droupadi Murmu for final approval. However, it has faced criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for its exclusion of other backward classes (OBCs).

It will be implemented after the population census of 2021 which has been postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Population census is likely to be carried out post 2024 general election.