Amendment for 50% quota for women in panchayats likely this session

The government will push amendments for increasing to 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, even as it is mulling whether to extend the ward reservation for women candidates to two terms from the current one term.

At the inaugural session of a two-day national workshop on 'Implementation of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act: Issues and way forward', Union Minister Birender Singh said the government is likely to push the amendments in the Budget session, which begins February 23.

"At present, a ward is reserved for women candidates in panchayat polls for five years. We are planning to increase that to two terms (10 years) so that a woman candidate is enthused to do public work and strengthen her leadership as well," Singh said. Talking about the proposed constitutional amendment to increase women's reservation in panchayat polls to 50 per cent, he said, "We hope to bring the amendment during the upcoming Budget session." 

The Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister said the move is unlikely to be opposed by any political party.