In a path-breaking move to empower women at the grassroots level,government on Thursday approved a proposal to increase reservation for them in panchayats to 50 per cent. A meeting of the Union Cabinet,chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,decided to bring a bill to amend Article 243(D) of the Constitution to enhance reservation for women in panchayats at all tiers from the current one-third to at least 50 per cent. "This is a path-breaking decision," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters. She said the Panchayati Raj Ministry is likely to move a bill to amend the constitution in the next session of Parliament to give effect to the increased quota. The enhanced reservation would be applicable to the total number of seats to be filled by direct elections,the offices of Chairpersons,and the seats and offices of Chairpersons reserved for scheduled castes and tribes. "Enhancing reservation for women in panchayats will facilitate more women to enter public sphere. This would lead to further empowerment of women and make panchayats more inclusive institutions,improve governance and public service delivery," Soni said,adding there was no financial implications in operationalising the proposal.
