Women MPs to push for speedy passage of women-related Bills

Cutting across party lines, women Members of Parliament propose to set up pressure groups in both Houses to push for speedy clearance of a number of women-related Bills that are pending passage. The proposal was mooted at a meeting of women MPs, convened by Girija Vyas, chairperson of the National Commission for Women on Thursday. It was attended by 22 women MPs.

Ms. Vyas suggested that women MPs, irrespective of their political affiliations, can come together to form a group and push for a number of pending Bills.

Among these Bills and drafts are those related to protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace, compensation to rape victims, adding ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’ as a ground for divorce and prevention of acid attacks. Some of these are either before parliamentary standing committees or have been passed by one House but not the other.

Positive: Brinda

Describing the initiative as “very positive,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Brinda Karat said MPs from various parties were “fully open” to the idea.

“I suggested that a women’s caucus be formed with representatives of all parties, because despite political differences, women MPs are together on a number of women’s issues.”

She also suggested that groups be formed in the Lok Sabha headed by Ms. Vyas and in Rajya Sabha under Prabha Thakur of the Congress.

Ms. Vyas will demit office on April 8 after completing two terms as the NCW chairperson.