Bhubaneswar: The State Assembly Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in the State Assembly and parliament.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik introduced the resolution on the floor of the house which was supported by his party members and those from the Congress and the BJP.
Opposition chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati and BJP legislator party leader KV Singh Deo alleged that BJD is moving this resolution keeping an eye on the women vote bank as election is nearing. However, both the leaders supported the CM’s move.
Citing examples to buttress his claim, the Chief Minister said over last few months, entire Odisha got to know about two women. One was Mamata Padhiami, a Koya tribal girl from Malkangiri and another was Jayanti Ekka, a tribal lady from Balisankara of Sundergarh district.
Standing amongst a crowd in a video conference with the CM, Padhiami expressed with courage and conviction her views on the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). “This led to an increase in the ceiling for medical coverage for women from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. This historic decision impacts half of Odisha’s population and is looked upon with awe by the entire country,” he said. Ekka, a grass root entrepreneur with a childhood disability, was the star of the Make in Odisha Conclave. The confidence and determination with which she spoke inspired the entire state, Naveen said.
“From Malkangiri to Sundargarh, we witness a new Odisha. An Odisha with lakhs of Mamata Padhiamis and Jayanti Ekkas. This bold, aspirational and new Odisha has voices – voices which must be heard across panchayats, legislative assemblies and parliament,” he pointed out.
With this background, Patnaik initiated discussion on the historic motion for providing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative assemblies and parliament.
Stating that empowerment of women is very close to his heart, Naveen said no household, no society, no state, no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women. Highlighting the steps taken by his government for women, he said his government has enhanced women’s quota in panchayati raj institutions from 33 per cent to 50 per cent. “The new Odisha will move forward with a much greater momentum, only if half of our population, our mothers and daughters have a role in the highest decision making bodies of our state and our country,” he observed.
Odisha must show its commitment and its resolve to the entire nation that it is the land where women are truly empowered and truly involved in nation building, he added.
G Ram G
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