SRINAGAR, DEC 18: Jammu and Kashmir has reserved 50 percent of seats in its 90 assembly constituencies, following the passage of a bill by the BJP-led government. This legislation mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly.
There are already seven and nine seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the J&K Assembly. With 33 percent reservations for women, around 50 percent of seats have been reserved in J&K’s 90 Assembly segments. All these steps taken by the Centre will empower women, SC and ST in Jammu and Kashmir and have been widely hailed by political parties in particular and the common masses in general.
The J&K bill, introduced in and passed by the Lok Sabha on December 12 and passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday, marks a key amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
The primary focus of the amendment is on enhancing gender representation in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The latest amendment proposes to reserve approximately one-third of all elected seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for women.
Women leaders across party lines and general people have welcomed for reserving 33 percent seats to women in J&K.
A PDP leader said that her party was always in favour of the women’s reservation. “This is a welcome step taken by the Central government,” the leader said.
Senior National Conference figure Shamima Firdous has said giving 33 percent reservation to women in the assembly will have a positive impact on addressing women’s issues and concerns more effectively.
“Providing 33 percent to women will empower the women in J&K. This is a historical step taken by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre,” said Saba Jan, a school teacher.
The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill were passed within nearly 20 minutes of being tabled by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Monday.
Members spoke briefly on the Bills, extending their support to the proposed legislation.
