By PTI,
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today welcomed the introduction of Women’s Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha, but called for separate reservation for women belonging to SC/ST and OBC categories.
In a statement issued by the state government, she said that her government believed that out of the 33 per cent reservation quota proposed for women in the Bill, there should be a provision for separate reservation for women belonging to SC/ST and OBC categories.
The UP chief minister, however, made it clear that reservation to these categories should not be given quota within quota.
Mayawati said her government welcomed the proposal of 33 per cent reservation for women, as it was an important step towards their empowerment. However, she added that considering the fact that population of women was 50 per cent of the total population of the country, therefore it would be justified if they were given 50 per cent reservation at all levels of political structure of the country.
She said that from very outset her government was of the view that ‘Jitni jiski bhagidari, utni uski hissedari’ (contribution based quota system).