1. This Convention (on 19 Nov., 1997) of Members of Panchayats and local bodies organised by the National Women's Organisations, congratulates and expresses its solidarity with the approximately one million women who have been elected to the panchayats and local bodies in different states of India through the provision of one-third reservation ..

2. This Convention asserts that the experience of the majority of women elected at the panchayat level has laid the foundation for ensuring a wider role for women in the political process. The experience leads to the logical demand of extension of the one third reservation to state assemblies and parliament ...

3. This convention reiterates the understanding of the national women's organisations that women of any particular community should get at least one  third of any reservation benefit that the community may get. Since were is a constitutional provision for reservation for SC and ST candidates all states assemblies and in parliament, the present Bill ensures that women of these communities will get one third of those SC/ST reserved seats. As far as OBCs are concerned, at present there is no constitutional provision for such reservation of seats in any state assembly or parliament for OBCs. Nor has this demand ever been raised (sic). In many state assemblies without any reservation, persons belonging to backward communities make up the single largest group. however if in the future such a reservation on the basis of caste is made, then women of those particular communities will automatically get one-third reservation.

This convention demands that the Bill should be accepted as it is.

4. This Convention also expresses its opposition any move to dilute the percentage quota below one third ...