Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu addresses the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram in Aizawl on March 10, 2022. (Photo/PIB)
Aizawl: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on March 10, 2022, flagged the inadequate representation of women in Parliament and State Legislatures.
Addressing the members of Mizoram Legislative Assembly, VP Naidu said there is a strong case for involving more women members in lawmaking.
While noting that the Assemblies of Mizoram and Nagaland do not have any women members, he said the Manipur and Tripura Assemblies have two and five members respectively.
“Of the total 498 Members in the eight Legislative Assemblies of the region, there are only 20 women Members constituting a mere 4%. Even in the Parliament women constitute only about 11%,” VP Naidu lamented.
The Vice President also stressed the need for legislatures, including that of North-Eastern States, to meet more often and for longer duration so that there is adequate time for law-making, discussing issues of larger public interest, and ensuring accountability of the executive.
VP Naidu suggested that the Assembly sessions should also be planned over a reasonable period of time so that there is enough time to deliberate, discuss, debate and finally, decide.
“We must have more sittings of legislatures and more constructive debates in each session”, he added.
Mizoram Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo, Deputy Chief Minister Ministers, MLAs and Commissioner and Secretary, Legislative Assembly, Mizoram were present on the occasion. (Press Release)