Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. (File photograph)
To increase women's participation in urban policy making, the Union government is considering bringing in a law that would make way for 50% reservation for women in all urban local bodies.
The Urban Development Ministry has already held consultations with the states on the issue, said urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu today at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on gender equality and urban poverty.
Currently only one-third of the seats in urban local bodies are reserved for women. But some states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, have reserved 50% seats for women.
But for making the reservation mandatory, a central legislation amending the Constitution is needed.
The Narendra Modi government has been trying to implement gender-friendly policies, pointed out Mr Naidu. Earlier this year, the government had launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the girl child, educate her) campaign in a big way.
This time, the initiative is for the urban woman, as part of which, the government plans to launch special provisions for households headed by women and single women in the Housing for All Scheme. Such households will get credit-linked subsidy and other benefits.
There will also be schemes for joint ownership of houses, the minister said, under the Housing for All Schemes.
The government's move is being seen as an attempt to consolidate its base among women voters in urban centre which have long been BJP's strength.