The Upper House Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 9 Mar 2010.[1] As of May 2012, the Lower House Lok Sabha has not yet voted on the bill.[2]
In 1993, a constitutional amendment in India called for a random one third of village council leader, or pradhan, positions in gram panchayat to be reserved for women.[3] The village council is responsible for the provision of village infrastructure – such as public buildings, water, and roads – and for identifying government program beneficiaries. Although all decisions in the village council are made by majority, the pradhan is the only full-time member and exercises significant control over the final council decisions.[4] Recent research on the quota system has revealed that it has changed perceptions of women’s abilities, improved women’s electoral chances, and raised aspirations and educational attainment for adolescent girls.[5]
There is a long-term plan to extend this reservation to parliament and legislative assemblies.[6][7][8] In addition, women in India get reservation or preferential treatments in education and jobs. Certain men consider this preferential treatment of women in India as discrimination against them in admissions to schools, colleges, and universities. For instance, several law schools in India have a 30% reservation for females.[9] A segment of social and political class in India is strongly in favor of providing preferential treatment to women in order to create a level playing field for all of its citizens.
Since,
* there will be more women