Odisha Leads the Nation in Political Representation of Women; Reservation Bill Consensus Had Its Roots in Naveen’s Efforts

Bhubaneswar: The Parliament has passed the Women’s Reservation Bill and it is going to be a reality soon with maximum of political parties supporting it. But the realisation of this success has its genesis in the efforts of none other than Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. While the Women’s Reservation Bill paves the way for 33 percent reservation for women in the Parliament and State Legislatures, Odisha has already sent 33 percent women to the Lok Sabha. What is more elevating to see is that women in Odisha have experienced political empowerment from the grassroots level for quite some decades.

Political Empowerment of Women in Odisha took shape in the early 1990’s when Biju Patnaik implemented 33 percent reservation for women in the Panchayat local bodies. His son and current Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik increased it to 50 percent in 2011 and in 2012, 50 percent seats were reserved for women in all urban local bodies. These steps had a significant impact on the participation of women in political affairs of the state. When the issue of Women Reservation was cold soldered, Naveen took up the issue seriously and tried to bring a national consensus. In 2018, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took the mantle onto himself to bring a national consensus on the issue and made efforts to bring all the political parties together. In the same year the Naveen led Government passed a resolution in the State Assembly seeking 33 percent reservation for women in Assemblies and the Parliament, which was passed unanimously. Naveen also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make efforts to get the Women’s Bill passed in the Parliament. This was followed up with letters to all the Chief Ministers of the country to bring in consensus on the issue. Biju Janata Dal delegates also visited the Chief Ministers and submitted memorandums on behalf of Naveen that sought their support for passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament.

During the 2019 General Elections, the Biju Janata Dal fielded 33 percent women candidates for the Lok Sabha. It was very rare for any political party in the country at that time that a political party fielded one third women. Naveen had said at that time that “If India is to lead the world, if India is to be an advanced nation like America and China, then women empowerment is the only answer.”

The passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill after pending for 27 years is really an important event in Indian polity and democracy. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s efforts in passing the Bill are also commendable. He has championed the cause since long and the party has raised the issue at all major forums in the nation. Like his social transformative initiatives such as Mission Shakti, the Chief Minister has also been exemplary in his efforts for Women Reservation. Under his leadership, women empowerment and political representation of women in Odisha has become a reality. Coincidentally, as Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Parliament, Odisha too got its first Woman Speaker for the State Assembly. The Odisha model of women empowerment and their political elevation is an inspiration for all and is being seen as the only model that the country needs today. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s leadership has given a new dimension and meaning to women centric development and the transformation that is taking place in Odisha is never possible without women at its center.