BHUBANESWAR: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya  Sabha member Sasmit  Patra today urged the Centre to take immediate steps for early passage of much-awaited women’s reservation Bill that will ensure 33% seats for them in Parliament and state assemblies.

During the Zero Hour, BJD MP reiterated the demand being raised by BJD supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over many years for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament. He said that women’s empowerment is extremely important in India and especially in the context of economic, social and political empowerment. The BJD MP further contended that true women’s empowerment could be achieved only if political empowerment through the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill is ensured.

Speaking on political empowerment for women, Patra stated how Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had reserved 33% seats for the women in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections for his party and how his party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been strongly demanding for the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill.

On the issue of social and economic empowerment, Patra stated that the Union Government should study the model of Mission Shakti programme of Odisha which has empowered more than 80 lakh women through Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) and how these women have revolutionized their lives and livelihood through the Mission Shakti Programme.

Patra proposed that just as the Centre had brought about the National Maternity Scheme after considering Odisha’s Mamata Yojana as a benchmark model. In the same way, the Centre should now consider bringing about a National Programme on the lines of Odisha’s Mission Shakti which would lead to social and economic empowerment of women. The BJD MP hoped that his party’s two proposals would lead to the true political, social and economic empowerment of women in India.

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