Women's Reservation Bill should be top priority: idu

New Delhi, March 8: Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah idu on Thursday said the Women’s Reservation Bill should be accorded top priority and urged the political parties to refrain from politicising the issue for the sake of real empowerment of women. In his message on Intertiol Women’s Day, idu also expressed his concern over gender equality, safety of women and discrimition against the girl child.

“With women constituting about 50 per cent of our population, social, economic and political empowerment of women, including providing reservation in the Parliament and state legislatures, has to be accorded top priority for the country to achieve rapid progress,” idu said in the Rajya Sabha. He said Intertiol Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and honour the untiring commitment and determition of ordiry women in India and throughout the world to achieve equality, justice and economic development.

“The famous words of Mahatma Gandhiji ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ are probably more relevant today than ever before,” he said. Highlighting the issues concerning women, he said two things that should receive renewed focus are gender equality and safety of women. “We all have to act collectively to raise awareness against discrimition of the girl child. Every household, neighbourhood, school, institutions and community should start gender-sensitisation. “The mindset to respect girls and women should be promoted at home and in schools, public areas, public transport and at every place and every stage,” idu said. Stressing on the need to begin change at home, he urged the parents to ensure that the boy and girl child are treated equally. “There cannot be two opinions on the need to elimite even the remotest possibility of discrimition against the girl child.”

Expressing concern over the lower female literacy rate compared to male literacy, he said: “This problem has to be addressed on a war footing to educate and empower women.” On the issue of curbing crimes against women, the Vice President stressed on increasing visible policing and patrolling particularly in desolate areas and during night. “Visible policing will not only provide reassurance to people but will also be a deterrent to trouble-makers,” he said. Mentioning the tradition of respecting women, he said no religion denigrates the status of women. (IANS)

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