The idea of providing the legal status to the women's rights began with the historic Panchayati Raj Act, 1992 (73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment). Its quite interesting to note that 'Mannina Maga (son of the soil)', the former prime minister Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda made the actual promise for reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies in 1996[...]. Here is the journey of Women's Bill so far[source],

1. Women's Reservation Bill [Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill, 1996] was first introduced in the parliament on 12th September, 1996 by H.D. Deve Gowda's government. The bill did not get pass the hurdles of parliament. Mr. Gowda's government reduced to minority and subsequently 11th lok sabha was dissolved and hence the bill lapsed.
2. In 1998, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government made another attempt by introducing the Women's Bill [Constitution (84th Amendment) Bill, 1998]. Ironically, this time too, the bill was lapsed because 12th loka sabha had to be dissolved prematurely; Vajpayee's government reduced to minority!
3. Yet another attempt was made on December 23, 1999 with the introduction of the Bill in the Lower House. But this bill also could not be pursued due to lack of political consensus.


The present Bill has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha (May 06th, 2008) for the first time with the consequence that it will not lapse. We can only hope that UPA government can see this bill pass through both the houses of parliament. If it does, it will be interesting to see that a matriarch of the state will be signing the Women's Reservation Bill!

What will happen if this bill is passed and becomes a law?

1. Reservation for women at each level of legislative decision-making, starting with the Lok Sabha, down to state and local legislatures.
2. One-third of the total available seats would be reserved for women in national, state, or local governments.
3. At least 180 seats in the parliament will be reserved for women. That means at least 180 male members will not be able to contest election.Also, there is to be a rotation of seats, i.e., a male member of Parliament can not represent the same constituency for more then two consecutive terms.