Make draft bills public, say civil society members

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over what they described as "opaque and non-consultative manner" in which govt is bringing bills related to women's reservation and delimitation in the upcoming three-day special session of the Parliament, a group of social and women's rights activists, academics and retired civil servants have urged the Centre to place the draft bills in the public domain for wider consultation even as they "wholeheartedly" supported reservation for women in legislatures.

A statement endorsed by over 250 signatories has been sent to govt. Many of them have consistently opposed the BJP govt on a wide range of issues. Prominent names on the list include transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj, Beena Pallical from National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Teesta Setalvad from Citizens for Justice and Peace, Nikhil Dey from Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and economist Jayati Ghosh among others. tnn

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