New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government was committed to enactment of the National Food Security Act, but gave no similar assurance on the women’s reservation bill.
Releasing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II’s report card on completing its first year, the prime minister said: ‘Consultations have been held with states and union territories and other stakeholders. A draft National Food Security bill is under preparation and it is proposed to be placed in the public domain for scrutiny and comments.’
However, on the women’s reservation bill, that seeks to provide 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, he gave no definite assurance.
The prime minister said that ‘political empowerment of women is a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.’
‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 providing for reservation for women in as nearly as one-third of the total seats of the Lok Sabha and of the State Legislative Assemblies, including the Legislative Assembly of the NCT of Delhi, for a period of 15 years, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on May 6, 2008,’ he said.
‘The Rajya Sabha has passed the bill March 9, 2010,’ the prime minister added.
