Women's quota bill may be introduced on Tuesday

A bill, providing for reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies, is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Women's Reservation Bill, which provides for 33 per cent quota for women, will be considered by the Cabinet on Monday night and is expected to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, sources said in Delhi.

The bill is expected to be referred to the Standing Committee soon after being tabled in the Upper House, they said.

The proposed legislation has been stuck for long due to differences between political parties over the percentage of reservation, with some parties insisting on providing for quota for women from backward classes.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a Left parties' delegation on Saturday that his government was committed to providing reservation for women in the elected bodies and would introduce the bill in the current Budget session of Parliament.