New Delhi, India. Manifestazione in sostegno della proposta di legge che assegna un terzo dei seggi parlamentari alle donne

(EPA/ANINDITO MUKHERJEE)

Indian women participate in a rally i in favour of a bill to be presented in upper house of the parliament on International Women’s Day that seeks to reserve a third of seats for women in all legislatures in New Delhi, India, 08 March 2010. A bill proposing to allocate 33 per cent of seats to women in India’s Parliament and state legislatures is to be
put to the vote in the upper house or Rajya Sabha on 08 Mrach. The bill, which aims at increasing the participation of women in India’s democracy, has been stalled for 13 years by political opponents. It would require a constitutional amendment and the support of two-thirds of both houses of Parliament before it can become law. It
also has to be supported by 50 per cent of state legislatures. Both houses saw raucous scenes as lawmakers opposed to the bill disrupted proceedings.