Amid the historic adaptation of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ by both houses of the parliament which has paved the way for long-standing demand of 33 per cent reservation to the women in the parliament the Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an organisation dedicated to the cause of Vanvasis/Janjatis (Adivasi) has expressed their happiness over the historic legislature.
In a press release issued recently, Kalyan Ashram, a body affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while terming the bill as an epoch-making legislation has hailed that the bill will empower women for Bharat which has entered the Amrit Kal after completing 75 years of Independence and will contribute towards the coveted goal of developed Bharat with grit and determination.
While highlighting the traditional values of Bharat towards women, the press release further read that women have had a respectable place in Bharat since ancient times and in our tradition we have always looked at them as Narayani. Even today women are making their unprecedented contributions in all walks of our social life. From holding the highest office of the country, President Draupadi Murmu ji to the women scientists in Chandrayaan 3 mission are living examples of this fact. The voice of ‘Nari Shakti’ will now echo in the parliament and the Vidhan Sabha, read the press release further.
Further while hailing the proposed provision for separate reservation for Janjati women, Kalyan Ashram are of the view that this will accommodate a good representation of the Janjati women in parliament and assemblies of various constituent states of Bharat. It further read that in terms of the development, the Janjati society stands at the lowest step of our social Pyramid and the increased representation for women will not only speed up the development process of Janjati society but will also ensure that their voices will become the voice of the entire community in parliament and legislative assemblies.
In the end while commending the maturity shown by all the political parties for rising above the party line and to vote in favor of the legislature the press release further read that though the actual impact of the bill in enhancing women’s progress is something to be seen in the next few years, a decisive force of women will now be seen in the temple of democracy as they would now constitute one third of the legislatures. The press note concluded with a congratulatory note to all the women of the country and wished them a bright future in contributing to the growth and development of Bharat.
Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram
Founded in the winters of 1952 by Balasaheb Deshpande Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram is an social welfare organisation working in the tribal dominated regions of the country with a focus on uplifting the Vanvasis residing in the remotest regions of Bharat. The outfit has its ‘Kendriya Prant Karyalay’ (headquarters) in the tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh in Jashpur and runs various programs dedicated to the upliftment of Vanvasis.
The organisation runs various programs in remote regions such as providing essentials medicines via Aarogya Rakshak, similar to Mitatins, Bal Sanskar Kendra for cultural development in youths, training centers for Janjati women to bolster them for their livelihoods, Shraddha Jagran for spiritual and cultural awakening, education centers and Chhatravas (Hostels) for studies.
The outfit has its Karyalays (offices) in almost all the districts of the country with a tribal population including the remote districts of northeast where the Ashram has been indulged in various welfare schemes for the indigenous community residing in hilly terrain.
‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’
It is to be noted that the incumbent central government led by prime minister Narendra Modi introduced ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ on Tuesday, September 19, after shifting to the recently inaugurated new parliament building. The bill was the first legislation that the Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) government introduced which was ultimately passed by a thumping majority by both the houses.
The bill paves the way for the long pending demand for the women reservation in parliament and state assemblies which has been hanging for nearly three decades due to lack of consensus among the lawmakers.
The bill will likely come into effect till post delimitation of Lok Sabha seats in 2026 which will ensure that the women representation in the parliament will constitute a majority not less than 1/3rd out of the total representatives. Once the bill is enacted as law it will be in force for 15 years which can also be extended afterwards. The bill would provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the seats reserved for scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes.
