CHENNAI: A day after the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted two Bills for providing 50 per cent reservation for women in both rural and urban local bodies, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday thanked the MLAs for unanimously passing the bills and said that increasing the number of seats for women in local bodies would pave the way for speedy development of urban and rural areas.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said that providing safety and economic progression alone does not constitute for the real freedom of women, but they should also be given adequate share towards guiding the nation. If responsibilities are given, then women can change their fates and others. So, an act for providing one third reservation for women in local bodies such as Corporations, Municipalities, Town Panchayats, Villages Panchayats, Panchayat Unions and District Panchayats was brought during my previous regime, she added.
Noting that increasing the number of seats in local bodies for women would enhance their participation, she said, I firmly believe that this would result in speedy development of urban and rural pockets. Henceforth, Jayalalithaa said, I ordered for revising the reservation for women from one third to 50 per cent.
As per that, bills were moved by Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani in the State Assembly on February 20, which was adopted unanimously, she said. I extend my appreciation and thank the MLAs, who unanimously passed it, the Chief Minister stated.
Jayalalithaa further listed the schemes executed by her Government for the welfare of women including women literacy program, formation of Self Helped Groups and special industrial estates for female entrepreneurs. It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday unanimously adopted two Bills for providing 50 per cent reservation for women in both rural and urban local bodies.
Following this, the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, and acts relating to all municipal corporations would be amended suitably.