CM calls quota bill setback ‘reprehensible’, slams Cong

Bhopal: The failure of a women's quota bill to secure the required two-thirds majority in Parliament on Friday triggered a sharp political exchange, with CM Mohan Yadav accusing the Congress of exposing an "anti-women mentality"."Congress party's anti-women mentality has once again been exposed today," Yadav said after bill on women's quota fall short of 2/3rds vote in Parliament on Friday, adding: "Preventing the passage of an important bill related to women's empowerment in Parliament is utterly reprehensible and regrettable. This reflects insensitivity towards the rights and dignity of the mothers and sisters of the country. The public is watching everything and will surely hold them to account in due course." After the fall of the bill, the MP govt stated women's representation has crossed 50 per cent in MP in all three tiers- gram panchayat, janpad panchayat, and zila panchayat. Overall, women now account for approximately 52.84 percent of the total elected representatives. Panchayat elections in MP are scheduled next year. Women's reservation bill stopped by the opposition would be a poll issue in panchayat elections in MP next year. MP has 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) since 2007. Giving numbers of women in panchayati raj institutions in MP, the govt stated at the gram panchayat level, women's representation stands at about 52.83 per cent, while in janpad panchayats it has reached 53.22 per cent. In zila panchayats, women's participation is recorded at 53.71 per cent.According to govt data, out of a total of 23,011 elected sarpanches, 11,683 are women, reflecting their leadership role in rural governance. Similarly, among 364,895 elected panchs, 193,284 are women representatives.Women's participation is also notable at the janpad panchayat level. Out of 313 elected janpad panchayat presidents, 179 are women. Likewise, 3,425 women have been elected out of 6,458 janpad panchayat members.At the district level, 26 out of 52 zila panchayat presidents are women, while 444 women representatives have been elected among 823 zila panchayat members, the govt stated on Friday.