New Delhii: With the Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures hanging fire, it is evident that Indian politics is not ready for a separate quota for women. But that has not deterred DMK MP Tiruchy Siva from pitching for the reservation of women in government jobs, and even private if the employers so want.
Mr Siva, an MP from Tamil Nadu, moved the Women’s (Reservation in Workplace) Bill in Rajya Sabha on Friday. The private member’s Bill seeks 30 per cent reservation for women in jobs and promotions in establishments owned, controlled, managed or financed by the Central and state governments.
The Bill says the private sector may “voluntarily” decide to provide equal employment opportunities to women and the Centre could take steps to incentivise the private sector.
“The promise of equal opportunity for women has lingered as a mere promise in our country since Independence. Though the Constitution has guaranteed these promises in terms of the fundamental right of equality, women are deprived of employment opportunities however much they are qualified and deserving,” according to the statement and objectives of the Bill.
“Women in many parts of the country are kept away from active participation in the workplace. The Bill aims to ensure that women find a respectful position in the society by bringing an end to the discrimination meted out to them,” it says.
According to e Census, 67,369 women (2.51%) were in Central government services out of 26.99 lakh employees in 1971. The number rose to 2.91 lakh (7.53%) in 2001 and 3.11 lakh (10.04%) in 2009.
India has been a signatory of the UN and ILO Conventions recognising the equality of the sexes. Further, it has adopted legislations that uphold equal remuneration and maternity benefits. However, women in many parts of the country are kept away from active participation in the workplace.
