Seeking a paradigm shift in mindset to give women their due share in governance, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee advocated earmarking of seats for women in legislatures to involve them in the political process.
Reserving and earmarking seats for women in the legislatures is one way through which we can involve women in the political process, he said inaugurating the first Commonwealth Women Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi.
Observing that 33 per cent of seats reserved for women in Panchayati Raj institutions have empowered nearly one million women, Chatterjee said, "We are looking at a legislation to provide for reservation of seats for women in our legislatures, both at the state level and at the Centre."
"We are optimistic that we will be able to arrive at a political consensus to bring in the legislation in the near future," he said, adding he was hopeful this would be brought during his tenure as the Speaker.
International commitments for gender equality, women's participation in the decision making process and women's representation in the legislatures were far from satisfactory, he said, adding, "our mindset and outlook towards women's role in the family, society and polity have to undergo a paradigm shift, if they are to be made a part and parcel of the decision-making processes."
Commonwealth Women Parliamentary Conference was being held as part of the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) beginning Tuesday, which would bring together about 800 delegates.
