Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved a resolution in the Assembly on Tuesday seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in the Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

The resolution was adopted by way of voice vote with the Congress and BJP lending support but terming it an poll stunt by the ruling BJD.

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Congress and BJP members pointed out that the women reservation Bill had been pending passage in the Rajya Sabha. They also took a dig at the state BJD government over the increasing incidents of rape and women atrocities in the state.

The Chief Minister said the Congress had promised it in its manifesto in 2004 and the BJP in 2014.

He appealed to members across the political divide to support the motion and adopt it unanimously.

In fact, Opposition Congress and BJP were taken by surprise as the CM who rarely participates in debates stood up to make a speech and move the resolution.

Clearly, the BJD was out to consolidate its women vote bank as such reservations are in the realm of Parliament and not the state assembly, remarked opposition circles outside the House. They felt it was a political stunt but conceded that it was unexpected.

Making a statement in the Assembly, the CM said the entire Odisha got to know about two women in the last few months. One was Mamata Padhiami, a Koya tribal girl from Malkangiri, 700 kilometers away from Bhubaneswar. Standing among a crowd during a video conference, she expressed with courage and conviction her views on Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

This led to an increase in the ceiling for medical coverage for women from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. “This historical decision impacts half of Odisha’s population and is looked at with awe by the entire country,” said Patnaik.

Jayanti Ekka, another tribal woman from Balisankara of Sundergarh who is a grassroot entrepreneur with a childhood disability, was the star of the Make in Odisha Conclave where the who’s who of the country were present.

The confidence and determination with which she spoke inspired all of Odisha.

“From Malkangiri to Sundergarh, we witness the new Odisha. An Odisha with lakhs of Mamata Padhiamis and Jayanti Ekkas,” said the CM, adding: “This bold, aspirational and new Odisha has voices — voices which must be heard across Panchayats, Legislative Assemblies and the Parliament.”

“It is in this context that I initiate the discussion on this historic motion for providing 33 percent reservation for women in Legislative Assemblies and the Parliament. Empowerment of women is very close to my heart,” said the CM.

Patnaik went on to highlight the schemes for women empowerment — Mission Shakti, MAMATA, girls’ education, Mission Shakti loans at 1% interest, hostels for 5 lakh tribal girls, provision of 7 lakh for women under BSKY, land rights for women etc — initiated by his government over the last 19 years.

He recounted that late Biju Patnaik was the true champion of women empowerment and in 1992 he had reserved 33 per cent seats for women in local bodies.

“My government has further enhanced it to 50 percent. In fact, it’s heartening to know that real numbers are much more than 50 per cent,” said the CM.

He noted that Mission Shakti project involved over 70 lakh women.

“New Odisha will move forward with much greater momentum, only if women are involved in decision making bodies. Odisha must show its commitment and its resolve to the entire Nation that it is the land where women are truly empowered and truly involved in nation building,” Patnaik said.