Voting in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in March 2010 was the most important occasion for him during his tenure in the upper house, said nominated member agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan on Friday.
Dr. Swaminathan was addressing members as the House bid him farewell ahead of his term coming to an end next month.
Making a strong pitch for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, he expressed the hope that the Lok Sabha would pass the Bill soon so that the socio-political empowerment of women, which started at the local body level, could “be extended to the highest decision-making bodies of our democracy.”
Dr. Swaminathan, fondly known as the “father of the green revolution” was greeted by the entire House, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with thumping of desks.
He, however, regretted that the Women Farmer’s Entitlements Bill, 2011, could not come up for discussion during his term, despite being listed twice, as proceedings were disrupted.
