Women’s quota: Congress flays CM for mooting special Assembly session to condemn INDIA bloc
The agenda should also include ‘quota within quota for OBC women’ in women’s reservation and Amaravati ORR project, demands PCC vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji
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Context
The APCC vice-president demanded the inclusion of 'quota within quota' for OBC women and discussions on land acquisition for the Amaravati ORR project in the upcoming special Assembly session. The session was originally proposed by AP CM to condemn the INDIA bloc regarding the Women's Reservation Bill. This highlights the intersection of gender, caste, and infrastructure development in regional politics.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity
The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, mandates reserving one-third of seats in the and State Assemblies for women. However, its implementation is deferred until the first delimitation exercise after the relevant Census is published. The controversy lies in the demand for a 'quota within quota' for Other Backward Classes (OBC) women. Currently, the Constitution provides political reservations for SCs and STs, but not for OBCs. Proponents argue that without an OBC sub-quota, the benefits might skew towards socially advanced groups, invoking the spirit of . This ongoing political friction underscores the complexities of balancing gender representation with caste-based affirmative action in India's electoral framework.
Governance
The debate also touches upon the federal dynamics and the role of State Assemblies in national issues. While the is a central legislation, state political parties use Assembly sessions to pass resolutions or debate its nuances, reflecting the decentralized nature of Indian political discourse. The AP CM's call to use a special Assembly session to condemn a national political bloc illustrates how state legislatures are leveraged for national political positioning. This reflects the broader issue of center-state political relations and how national legislations are perceived and contested at the state level.
Economic
The (Outer Ring Road) project represents a massive infrastructure push, requiring the acquisition of approximately 10,000 acres of land. Such large-scale land acquisition often triggers resistance from small and marginal farmers, raising concerns about displacement and fair compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The Congress leader's allegation of 'forcible acquisition' highlights the tension between state-led infrastructure development and the protection of agrarian livelihoods. For UPSC, it's crucial to understand the socio-economic impact of mega-projects, balancing economic growth with equitable rehabilitation.