Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Legislating change: On the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha

Legislating change: On the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha

The Women’s Reservation Bill must be passed in its current form without further delay (देर करना)

The passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha almost three decades after it was first tabled in Parliament is a welcome move that can finally shatter (तोड़ना, टुकड़े टुकड़े करना) a political glass ceiling. With women Members of Parliament comprising only about 15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha, the gender inequality in political representation is stark and disturbing. The 128th Constitution Amendment Bill, or the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, seeks to amend this by reserving a third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative Assemblies for women. It has a 15-year sunset clause for the quota, that can be extended (बढ़ाना). Considering the fraught (Filled with, marked by, or causing anxiety, worry, or tension; laden with something undesirable) history of the struggle for women’s reservation, and several false starts despite the Rajya Sabha passing it in 2010, it is laudatory (प्रशंसानीय, सराहने योग्य) that the first Bill to be introduced in the new Sansad Bhavan has been passed in the Lok Sabha. But its implementation will be delayed as it has been tied to two factors, delimitation and the Census, and therein lies the rub. It is unfortunate (दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण) that implementation is being linked to delimitation, for the principle of having a third of seats reserved for women has nothing to do with the territorial limits of constituencies or the number of Assembly or Lok Sabha constituencies in each State.

Women will thus not have access to 33% reservation in the 2024 general election. The Bill also mandates that as nearly as one-third of the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be set aside for women. The Opposition is demanding an internal quota for women of Other Backward Classes, but this should not be used as a ruse (धोखाधड़ी, चाल) to delay implementation. In the meantime, proposals should be fine tuned (To adjust or adapt something, often music, to a particular pitch, melody, or mood) to ensure (सुनिश्चित करना) that when it becomes an Act, it is not mere tokenism for women’s political representation. It is a fact that local bodies are better represented, with the share of women in panchayati raj institutions well above 50% in several States. Lessons must be imbibed (To absorb or take in something, typically knowledge or a quality) on how women at the grassroots level have broken all sorts of barriers (बाधा, रुकावट), from patriarchal mindsets at home to not being taken seriously in their official duties, and made a difference. Women struggle on so many other counts: they have uneven access to health, nutrition and education, there is a lack of safe places, women are also falling out of the workforce — among the G-20 countries, India’s female labour force participation is the lowest at 24%. India, which gave women voting rights at the very outset, should not falter (To lose strength or momentum; to hesitate or waver in action or intent) when it comes to ensuring better political representation for women. For growth (विकास), and instituting change in key areas, women need to have their say.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Delay (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - देर करना
English Meaning - To postpone or defer an action, event, or process to a later time.

2.Shatter (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - तोड़ना, टुकड़े टुकड़े करना
English Meaning - To break into pieces with a sudden and violent force, often resulting in complete destruction.

3.Extend (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - बढ़ाना
English Meaning - To make something longer or larger in size, space, or time.

4.Growth (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - विकास
English Meaning - The process of increasing in size, quantity, or development; expansion.

5.Laudatory (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशंसानीय, सराहने योग्य
English Meaning - Expressing praise and commendation; complimentary.

6.Unfortunate (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण
English Meaning - Suffering from bad luck; unlucky.

7.Ruse (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - धोखाधड़ी, चाल
English Meaning - A deceptive or cunning strategy or trick used to deceive someone.

8.Ensure (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - सुनिश्चित करना
English Meaning - To make certain that something will happen or be the case.

9.Barrier (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बाधा, रुकावट
English Meaning - Something that blocks or obstructs progress, movement, or access.

10.Fraught (Adjective)

English Meaning - Filled with, marked by, or causing anxiety, worry, or tension; laden with something undesirable.

11.Tune (Verb)

English Meaning - To adjust or adapt something, often music, to a particular pitch, melody, or mood.

12.Imbibe (Verb)

English Meaning - To absorb or take in something, typically knowledge or a quality.

13.Falter (Verb)

English Meaning - To lose strength or momentum; to hesitate or waver in action or intent.