Women will soon occupy half the seats in urban local bodies with the Union cabinet on Thursday clearing a proposal for raising reservation for them in municipalities from 33% at present.
This provision will apply to the total number of seats to be filled by direct election, offices of chairpersons and seats and offices of chairpersons reserved for SCs and STs.
The increased representation of women is likely to have significant benefits in terms of higher priority to women’s issues in critical areas of urban governance and service delivery such as water supply, sanitation, education and health, I&B minister Ambika Soni told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
As reported by TOI, the urban development ministry will move a Bill to amend Article 243 of the Constitution in the next session of Parliament.
The proposed amendment will cover all states and Union Territories. Earlier, the Union cabinet had approved a proposal to increase reservation for women in panchyats to 50%.