Jamia Millia chief backs women's quota bill

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung Wednesday advocated the passage of the women's reservation bill to empower the poor and ordinary Indian women.

Giving the Maulana Azad memorial lecture on 'Governments, Governance and Sensitivity' at the university, Jung said: "It took 14 years for the bill to reach the Rajya Sabha and the drama enacted in parliament would be an envy for a play writer."

He highlighted the plight of women facing challenges like malnutrition, child marriages and multiple pregnancies.

"No one speaks for them. I have not seen a politician, a civil servant or an NGO who is not aware of the terrible condition of these women," he said.

The audience included Law and Justice and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Vincent H. Pala, students and faculty.

The women's reservation bill proposes 33 percent seats for women in parliament and state legislatures. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010. Now it is before the Lok Sabha.

Jung said the best of governments in independent India had failed to deliver good governance.

"After a period of time these governments tend to shut their eyes to the acute conditions of poverty and deprivation to the extent that they begin to believe that Rs.29 a day is adequate to sustain yourself," he said.