K Kavitha Holds Hunger Strike In Delhi Over Women's Reservation Bill

K Kavitha, a senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), is holding a hunger strike in New Delhi today, March 10 to demand the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament.

Leaders of several political parties are participating in Kavitha's day-long protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

In an exclusive interview with SheThePeople, Kavitha spoke about her fight to bring back the Women's reservation bill, and how policymaking will change as more women take centre stage.

K Kavitha on Women's Reservation Bill

Kavitha on about her fight to bring back the Women's reservation bill,  "The women's reservation bill is for the entire country. We cannot progress as a nation if we don't include our women in the workforce. Having 33 per cent of women in the political sphere, I am sure encourages and inspires women to take initiative and do good stuff out there. I am not saying the bill should be there only for politicians, yes this could be a brilliant initiative for women in the rest of the spaces as well, for boardrooms, classrooms, and across industries. There are so many international reports that state our women participation in the workforce is not a match to any country and we hardly do anything about it."

The bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats in the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in May 2008 and was referred to a standing committee. In 2010, it was passed in the House and transmitted finally to the Lok Sabha. However, the bill lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha.

Kavitha, who is also the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said as many as 18 political parties have been invited to join the hunger strike.

Suggested Reading: Women Reservation Bill: 25 Years On And Still Pending, Why?

Watch her interview with SheThePeople ">here