Women groups demands for Reservation Bill

New Delhi, Mar 8: Representatives of women's groups today presented a charter of demands to Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding 33 per cent reservation in legislature and gender-sensitive governance.

They urged the political class to rise above to go beyond rhetoric and deliver on its promises. Representatives from the All India Democratic Women's Association, All India Women's Conference, Joint Women's Programme, YWCA, Women's Political Watch and a host of others came together on the occasion. ''Redeem your pledges, keep your promise to the millions of women and deliver what is due to them,'' said Dr Mohini Giri of Guild of Services at a function to observe Women's day.

Dr Giri said the Prime Minister assured them that the Government will introduce the Reservation Bill in this session. ''He made it clear that at the end of the five-year term what he would like to see succeed is the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),'' she added.

Mrs Krishna Tirath, Chairperson of Women's Empowerment Committee, conceded that, 33 per cent representation in Parliament and State Legislature was a prerequisite for the empowerment of all sections of women.

Dr Giri said, ''We are celebrating this day in a befitting manner. In today's context of conflict, strife and the ever-widening social divide between the rich and the poor, prayer, petition and protest are the most powerful instruments that women have to draw attention to their concerns.'' Reinforcing this Ms Sudha Sundararaman, General Secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association, said the Charter has brought together every concern that is essential to ensure women inclusive governance".

The representatives emphasised upon the fact that it was "high time that political leaders deliver in the true sense of the word and make all institutions functional and accountable to the women."

UNI