LIVE TV
India
On Board Special Aircraft, Jul 30 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil on Friday said the government was coordinating with all political parties to pave way for Women Reservation Bill, pending for consensus in Lok Sabha for over a year.
The matter related to the bill came up for discussion at a meeting with a group of women parliamentarians in Mongolia, Patil told reporters on her way back to New Delhi after completing a week-long tour of South Korea and Mongolia.
"As we are discussing, they (Mongolian women parliamentarian) also want that there should be quota for women in parliament. It is that we are working out (consensus on Bill) with all the local parties which also needs to be passed in Lok Sabha," she said.
"So they (Mongolian women parliamentarian) said, if you could do it soon. We can ask our government too," Patil said, indicating efforts of the government for its enactment.
The bill granting 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha after two days of high drama in March 2010.
Expressing happiness over the meetings with political leaderships in Mongolia, she said, "There is a lot of good will among the people and women of both the countries.
During the discussion it was expressed that there should be more exchange of women delegations between the two countries. Not only the Parliamentarians but others who are working in social sectors or in any other areas."
"They have a population of (women) about 50.5 per cent. We are only 48.5 per cent. So we are lagging behind in that. About 80 per cent of women there are working in social sectors," she pointed out while pitching for empowerment of the fairer sex.
President was on a week-long tour of South Korea and Mongolia from July 24. India has signed agreements on civil nuclear cooperation with South Korea and in defense with Mongolia during the president`s visits besides other deals.
"I invited both countries to actively involve themselves with the rejuvenation and rebuilding of Nalanda University as a centre of excellence in Asia. The leadership of both countries referred to India as the spiritual home for many of their nationals," Patil added.
