Mumbai, Apr 20 (PTI): Maharashtra Legislative Council today unanimously passed the historic Bill providing 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats and Zilla Parishads.

The amendment to the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 and Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samiti Act, 1961 facilitates enhancing reservation from one third of the total seats to 50 per cent as members of the Village Panchayats and Panchayat samitis, Councillors of the Zilla Parishads and offices of Sarpanch and President of the Zilla Parishads and Chairpersons of the Panchayat Samitis.

"I appreciate the positive response (to the Bill) from the members of the House," Minister of State for Urban Development Bhaskar Jadhav said in the Upper House.

The Bill, passed by the Assembly last week, would now be sent to the Governor for final approval.

Appreciating the Bill, Neelam Gorhe (Shiv Sena) said women in politics need training to secure their position in future.