Dutee Chand Advocates for Enhanced Women's Representation in Politics
Dutee Chand Advocates for Enhanced Women's Representation in Politics
Olympic sprinter Dutee Chand has emphasized the necessity for stronger backing and increased representation of women in the political arena. Despite advancements in various sectors, women remain significantly underrepresented in legislative bodies. In a conversation with a news agency, Chand referenced a recent special session of the Odisha Assembly that concentrated on women's reservation, underscoring the importance of women's involvement in political decision-making. "A special session of the Odisha Assembly was convened to discuss women's reservation... Women should receive support across all sectors. While women are making strides in numerous fields, they lack the necessary support in politics," she stated.
Chand also pointed out the insufficient representation of women in elected positions, including the Parliament and state assemblies. "The number of women in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly is quite low," she remarked.
Political Controversy Surrounding Women's Reservation Bill
On April 30, the Odisha Legislative Assembly convened a one-day special session to deliberate on women's participation in Indian democracy. This session followed the Opposition's rejection of the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on April 17. During this session, the Lok Sabha addressed the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill simultaneously.
In the voting that ensued regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill, 298 members supported it while 230 opposed it.
Following the defeat of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the NDA criticized the Opposition, accusing them of obstructing the one-third reservation for women legislators.
In Odisha, the BJP alleged a coalition between BJD and Congress aimed at thwarting the proposed legislation.
The BJP has organized Jan Akrosh Padyatras across several states, condemning the actions of the Opposition parties.