Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to ensure passage of the women reservation bill in Parliament.
Patnaik said that the Odisha State Legislative Assembly has already passed a resolution for 33 per cent reservation for women.
“In 2011, Odisha government enhanced the reservation for women in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies to 50 per cent. This decision has empowered the women of Odisha…I am glad to state that recently, the state legislative assembly has adopted a unanimous resolution to provide for one-third reservation of women in Parliament as well as the state legislatures,” the letter read.
The letter also mentioned former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and said that the legendary leader was a pioneer in bringing in 33 per cent reservation in panchayat elections in the state besides implementing equal wages for both men and women.
The CM, while seeking PM’s intervention said, “…I would like to request your goodself to take the leadership in initiating necessary steps for passing the Bill for reservation of one third of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women. I assure full support of my government in providing women their rightful place in the decision making process.”
While batting for the need of women’s inclusion in policy-making, he said, “Empowerment of women is the empowerment of the nation. No household, no society, no state, no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in our constitution. The country will move forward with much greater momentum only if the other half of our population, our mothers, sisters and daughters, have a role in the highest decision making bodies of our states and our country.”