Mumbai, Apr 15 (PTI) The NCP (SP) on Wednesday said that party supremo Sharad Pawar introduced reservation for women in local self-government bodies in Maharashtra decades ago, and the BJP should acknowledge his contribution to women’s empowerment.
A special three-day sitting of Parliament has been convened from April 16 to 18, during which amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, will be brought for implementation in 2029.
In a statement, NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said, ” In Maharashtra, it was Sharad Pawar who (as chief minister) implemented 33 per cent reservation for women in local self-government bodies, which was later increased to 50 per cent. Pawar was a key architect of women’s empowerment in governance.
“The BJP-led government should acknowledge Pawar’s contribution during discussions on the women’s reservation bill,” he added.
Pawar also took steps to facilitate women’s employment in the armed forces when he was defence minister and proposed 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies as early as 2012, the spokesperson further said. PTI MR KRK
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