GANDHINAGAR: Offering a pre-Diwali bonus for women, chief minister Anandiben Patel decided on Monday to increase the quantum of reservations for women in state government jobs by 3% — now, the quota stands at 33%. The decision follows the CM’s announcement of 33% reservation for women in the police force .

Though the current rise in reservations is modest, the focus on empowering women is important because the earlier reservation criterion if 30% was not being followed properly during recruitments. The state government has planned to recruit around two lakh employees, so the serious implementation of the 33% reservation rule will expand women’s representation in the government.

According to ministers Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel, the chief minister has amended Gujarat Mulki Seva (Women’s Reservation) Niyam 1997 to take this decision.

The ministers said that the new reservation regime will bring more women into the police force, health, education, public administration and other government services. One in every three positions will be reserved for women, they said.