Parties should go beyond narrow divides on Women's Bill: Jayalalitha

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today said all political parties should "look beyond narrow divides" and ensure that the Women's Reservation Bill becomes law without further hiccups or delays.
    
"The passage... is a small, but historic step in the tumultuous journey of the Bill. Before the Bill becomes law, it has to be passed by Lok Sabha," the former chief minister said adding she congratulated both ruling and opposition parties for voting in favour of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Stating that women, forming almost half of the country's population, had been subjected to discrimination in a male-dominated society, she said women's reservation "is but a small step in setting right this anomaly and ensuring gender parity."

She said when the Bill becomes law, the country would need women of caliber to take up positions in state Legislatures and Parliament.

"AIADMK will take necessary steps towards grooming and developing women of substance for a positive political role in future", the party leader said in a statement, adding a committee was being formed to work out the training modules for women in elocution, law, financial management and political science.
    
She also recalled various initiatives for women taken during her earlier rule, including setting up of All-Women Police Stations.