Challenge of Tackling Counter-Productive Trends Medha Nanivadekar IF one is to go by the statements of the ministers in the BJP-led coalition government, the 81 st constitutional amendment bill seems to be on its way out of the cold storage where it was dumped by the Gujral government. Now the bill is likely to be reintroduced after the parliament meets in July 1998. It is intriguing to note that the bill still faces an uncertain future in spite of the fact that all major national political parties have committed themselves to 33 per cent reservation for women in state assemblies as well as the Lok Sabha in their election manifestos for 1996 and 1998 Lok Sabha elections. "The women's movement has till date, opposed all attempts to use its demand for one third reservation as a bargaining counter, because any dilution now will be ultimately targeted at the panchayat raj provision to which the movement has given the first priority" [ Vina Mazumdar, Seminar, September 1997, p 19].
