From the annals of history's grand parade,
Emerges the Women's Reservation Bill, arrayed,
In the intricate web of legislative design,
A profound embodiment of principles refined.

Through time's relentless march, it emerged,
The question of women's rights, power surged,
In the 20th century's shifting political breeze,
A notion born, a vision to appease.
As India's nascent nation took its stand,
The need to uplift every section of the land,
Became a pressing goal, a political demand,
To undo the injustices, a radical command.
In constitutional chambers, the Assembly's grace,
The noble principle of equality took its place,
Irrespective of caste, creed, or gender, to be,
Articles 14 and 16, the pillars to decree.
Inequalities entrenched, a reality to deface,
Article 15 arose, to the world's embrace,
A framework for affirmative action, did embrace
For the Scheduled Castes and Tribes' facing's grace.
Yet, in the Constituent Assembly's illustrious hall,
The question of women's quotas, they'd recall,
Rejected by the Women's Movement, one and all,
Preferential treatment, they refused to install.

For they believed women's strength was sure,
To compete as equals, a vision to endure,
Admission of inferiority, they'd not procure,
Equality's pursuit, they ardently swore.
But optimism's zenith, a quarter-century past,
In 1974, a revelation unveiled its cast,
The Committee on the Status of Women, steadfast,
Submitted "Towards Equality," an awakening broadcast.
Illusions of equality shattered, alas,
Discerned by the authors, a looking glass,
For women's representation, a stark impasse,
Despite legal changes, life's oppressive morass.
Reservations for women, the Committee would inquire,
Opposition emerged, fueling the fire,
Yet, the report unveiled a truth rather dire,
Women's roles as candidates continued to tire.
The lives of Indian women, largely unchanged,
Representation as candidates, precariously arranged,
The decision was clear, the Committee's range,
Statutory women's panchayats, a change prearranged.
But reservations in parliament, a notion denied,
An arduous decision, within the Committee, implied,
Dissenters within, they couldn't subside,
Underrepresentation's persistence, they eyed.
Mazumdar, Sarkar, and Dogra's plea,
Of institutionalized inequalities, could it be,
The need for reservations, for democracy's glee,
Narain, Baxi, Siriskar, an intellectual spree.
The debates within the Committee's domain,
A precursor to today's arguments' campaign,
From preserving male support, concerns of disdain,
To questions of equality, a persistent strain.

Women, not a community, it was said,
Caste, class, regions, across them they spread,
Competing with men, as equals, they'd tread,
Separate identities' threat, a concern widespread.
Sex as the basis of selection, they'd declare,
Not logical, not fitting, an argument quite rare,
Women's interests, society's tapestry to share,
Complex, intertwined, in the societal glare.
Reservations' unintended consequences, they'd dread,
Vested interests in backwardness, they'd spread,
A lasting change, they'd hope, the system led,
The character of Indian legislature, to embed.
Fast forward to the late '80s, the debate rekindled,
Core Group's recommendations, the fire not dwindled,
One-third reservation in assemblies, they kindled,
A momentous demand, by women, tenaciously swindled.
The major parties concurred, a political rally,
Manifestos echoed, their commitment tally,
Reality unveiled a contrary tally,
Seats to women, they granted quite thinly.
The United Front coalition, the Women's Bill in tow,
The 81st Amendment Bill, to public show,
Reserved 33% of seats, a transformative flow,
In constituencies, women candidates would grow.
Yet, debates raged, a stormy session's blow,
Snatched papers, tussles, a disruptive throw,
Unprecedented scenes, emotions aglow,
The Women's Reservation Bill, in the limelight's glow.
The 84th Amendment Bill, another endeavor,
Introduced by the BJP, aspirations to sever,
Strong opposition, debates did quiver,
The bill stalled, the hopes it couldn't deliver.
In July 1998, introduced once again,
The 84th Amendment, a challenging terrain,
Opposition mounting, with might and main,
No progress, the Bill's fate down the drain.
The 85th Amendment Bill, in May 2003,
A spirited attempt, yet again, to agree,
Protests, disruptions, a boisterous spree,
Parliament adjourned, from the Bill to be free.
The multiple derailments, the Bill's entwined fate,
Underrepresentation of women, a persistent weight,
In legislatures and Parliament, an unequal state,
A case for women's reservation, let's contemplate.
Women's representation, a tale of stark fact,
In the Lok Sabha, the issue to unpack,
First Lok Sabha's 4.4%, a fragile act,
The 15th Lok Sabha, progress to extract.
In the Rajya Sabha, the story unfolds,
From 6.94% to numbers untold,
Representation of women, a narrative to behold,
A challenging journey, history's threshold.
Representation in state legislatures, a similar plight,
Abysmal numbers, a challenging sight,
India's not alone, in this fight,
A global issue, in democracy's light.
The Women's Reservation Bill, its provisions defined,
An intricate web of legislation, a paradigm designed,
The 108th Amendment, history's confines,
Seeking gender parity, democracy's signs.
One-third of seats, a resolute stand,
In Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the demand,
Scheduled Castes and Tribes, a clause well planned,
Reserved seats, by rotation, to expand.
The bill's introduction, a historic dance,
Marching in the Rajya Sabha, taking a chance,
Yet, in the Lok Sabha, it couldn't advance,
Lapsed with dissolution, leaving a glance.
Criticism abounds, its flaws laid bare,
Conceptual shortcomings, a complex affair,
The rotation system, concerns to bear,
The GWRB, some would declare.
Madhu Kishwar's alternative, a robust plea,
The Forum for Democratic Reforms, you'd see,
Intra-party democracy, the plan to decree,
A different path to women's victory.
Dual-member constituencies, an alternate scheme,
To empower women, a transformative dream,
An electoral revolution, so it would seem,
Championing women's rights, a luminous gleam.

Now, a fresh chorus of critique takes the stage,
New perspectives emerge in this ongoing age,
Will the Bill's passage lead to corruption's cage?
Or will it empower women, as the evidence engage?
"Tokenism" they argue, a term so profound,
Fearing qualifications may not be renowned,
Yet studies persist, and the data is found,
Women's competence on solid ground.
Quality's decline, they continue to preach,
Weaker candidates, the Bill may beseech,
But research declares, in a clear, honest speech,
Quotas don't weaken, the evidence will reach.
Discrimination against men, some voices condemn,
Reservation quotas, it's a critical gem,
Yet affirmative action, like a guiding stem,
Correcting imbalances, for us to remember.
Unnecessary, they say, this Bill's quest,
Women can rise, that's the test,
But evidence speaks, we must be abreast,
Quotas enhance equality, at its best.
Corruption's shadow, they raise in the air,
Nominating corrupt candidates, they declare,
Yet where is the proof? It seems rather rare,
The data's silent, as we all share.
Violence's specter, they warn with a sigh,
As women's voices rise, reaching the sky,
But evidence stands strong, far and nigh,
No support for this claim, as the facts imply.
Paternalism's charge, in the debate's fray,
Women needing help, what some voices say,
Yet supporters argue, paving the way,
Equity's path, where we all sway.
Prognosticated to augment female representation,
A seismic shift in the political equation.
The Lok Sabha, with 13.6% in its grasp,
Shall witness a metamorphosis, a steadfast clasp,
Ascending to 34%, as the numbers amass,
A surge of female voices, an electoral morass.
In state legislative assemblies, the change will unfurl,
From 14.6% to 36%, like a luminous pearl,
A mosaic of diversity, women's presence swirl,
In the hallowed chambers, where decisions twirl.
Economic vistas, a vista to explore,
Over 10 million jobs, women shall secure,
A burgeoning workforce, society shall adore,
As women's empowerment, we solemnly assure.
The GDP, the nation's economic crest,
Foreseen to ascend by 10%, in its quest,
A transformative surge, where dreams invest,
Women's empowerment, in development's bequest.
Maternal mortality, a dire concern to mend,
Expected to plummet by 50%, a healing trend,
Healthcare's advances, they shall commend,
In the tapestry of life, women ascend.
Child immunization, a healthcare decree,
Anticipated to rise by 20%, a jubilee,
A healthier generation, for all to see,
As children thrive, and society agrees.
Child malnutrition, a scourge to assail,
Expected to dwindle by 10%, we avail,
Nutritious sustenance, like a flowing trail,
A radiant future, where young lives prevail.
Female literacy, knowledge's domain,
Envisioned to augment by 10%, with a gain,
Education's embers, like an ever-burning flame,
Empowering women, in wisdom's terrain.
Labor force participation, a dynamic stride,
Expected to burgeon by 10%, nationwide,
Women's economic roles, they'll preside,
A future where equality shall never subside.
Poverty rates, a societal divide,
Predicted to diminish by 10%, with pride,
Empowerment's journey, as the tides collide,
Women's lives, in dignity, they'll ride.
Political participation, democracy's core,
Envisaged to surge by 10%, and even more,
Women's voices, in governance, they'll implore,
A radiant future, for India to adore.
With critiques and support, it will prevail,
To a future where equality will never fail.
In the turbulent sea of political lore,
The Women's Reservation Bill, at the core,
A battle that continues, forevermore,
Women's representation, an ongoing roar.
India's democracy, in its glorious blaze,
Continues to grapple, in the electoral haze.

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