As a gift to women on ‘Women’s Day’ the ministry of corporate affairs has decided to include a new provision in the proposed Companies Bill, which would make it mandatory for companies with five or more independent directors to have at least one woman director on board.

Corporate affairs minister Murli Deora, on Tuesday said, “the proposed provision in the Companies Bill will give rightful due to our women in the corporate world.” Deora said the move would help in bringing women at the helm of corporate affairs on the company board as independent directors. According to him, this will be a tribute to Indian women.

“While UPA government is making efforts to reserve one third of the seats in Parliament/Assembly for women, this step is in that direction to achieve the cherished objective of women participation in decision making and giving them a rightful place in the society,” Deora said.

The new inclusion will be part of the pending companies bill 2009, which is expected to be tabled in the ongoing session of Parliament.

The ministry said that other than the financial sector no other sector has, so far, been able to provide better opportunities to Indian women.