In a major decision today, the Cabinet has approved a proposal for amending the Constitution to increase the women reservation in urban local bodies from one third to 50 percent. Briefing media, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mrs. Ambika Soni said that this will apply to total number of seats to be filled by direct elections, offices of Chairperson and seats and offices of the Chairperson reserved for SCs & STs. A bill for amending the article 243(T) will be brought in the next session of Parliament in this regard. It may be recalled that some time back the Cabinet had also given its green signal for a proposal to amend to raise the women’s reservation in Panchayats from one third to 50 per cent. <br/><br/>In another significant decision, the cabinet has given its nod for three schemes to be included in the Prime Minister's 15 point programmes for the welfare of minorities. These schemes are National Rural Drinking water programme, Urban Infrastructure Development scheme for small and medium towns and urban infrastructure & governance scheme where the flow of funds to minority concentration areas is upto 15 percent. MPs and State legislators as well as District Level committees will be included to monitor the 50 point programme. Mrs. Ambika Soni said that there has been an improvement in the recruitment of minorities in the central government and Public Sector Undertakings after the guidelines were issued to give special consideration in this regard. The percentage of recruitment of minorities which was 6.95 per cent in 2006-07 has gone up to 9.18 per cent in the last fiscal. The government also cleared the inclusion of Mewat district in place of Gurgaon in Haryana as one of the minority concentration district. The 15 point programme for minorities was introduced in 2006. <br/><br/>The Cabinet also approved the constitution of 19th Law Commission for a period of three years with effect from 1st of September 2009. The term of reference of 19th Law Commission include identifying laws which are in tune with the existing economic globalization, exploring suitable steps for equal redressal of the grievances of the people relating to the laws which affect the poor. It will also examine the existing laws with a view to promote gender equality and examine the impact of globalization on food security, unemployment and suggest measures to protect the interest of the marginalized. The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body which was originally set up in 1955 and is re-constituted after every three years. The tenure of the last Law Commission ended on the 31st of August this year.<br/><br/> The Cabinet also gave its approval for the national policy on disaster management. This will provide the framework and the road map for handling disasters in holistic manner. The policy has been prepared with a vision to build a safe and disaster resilient India and covers all aspects of disaster management.<br/><br/>A scheme for strengthening fire and emergency services in the country at an estimated cost of 200 crore rupees has also been cleared by the Cabinet.<br/>