The women’s reservation bill — that will pave the way for the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies — is a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an op-ed piece.
“It is a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India. It is an affirmation of a principle that has long guided our civilisational ethos, that society progresses when women progress”, PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister highlighted women constitute nearly half of India’s population, adding their contributions to the nation are vast and invaluable.
“Today, India is witnessing remarkable achievements by women across every field. From science and technology to entrepreneurship,
from sports to the armed forces and from music to the arts, women are at the forefront of India’s progress”, he said.
“Over the years, sustained efforts have been made to create an enabling environment for women’s empowerment. Greater access to education, improved healthcare, enhanced financial inclusion and better access to basic amenities have strengthened the foundations of women’s participation in economic and social life”, he added.
PM Modi opined that lack of female representation in politics and legislative bodies is unfortunate, adding when women participate in administration and decision-making, they bring with them experiences and insights that enrich public discourse and improve the quality of governance.
“It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections to the various states in the coming times are conducted with women’s reservation in place. Over the decades, there have been repeated efforts to provide women with their rightful place in democratic institutions by the previous governments”, he said.
PM Modi recalled the passage of the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, stressing it was one the most special occasions of his life.
“Committees were made, bill drafts were introduced but they never saw the light of day. But the broad consensus has remained that women’s representation in legislative bodies has to increase. In September 2023, Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam with the same spirit of consensus. I consider it to be among the most special occasions of my life”, the PM added.
The Prime Minister called for urgency to implement the women’s reservation bill, saying the moment cannot be deferred any longer.
“Strengthening women’s participation in legislative institutions is an important step towards fulfilling that vision. It reflects our commitment to building a society where every citizen has an equal stake in shaping the nation’s destiny. This is a moment that cannot be deferred any longer. Every delay in advancing women’s representation is, in effect, a delay in strengthening the quality and inclusiveness of our democracy. For decades, the need for greater participation of women in legislative institutions has been acknowledged, discussed and reaffirmed. To postpone action now would mean extending an imbalance that we already recognise and have the capacity to correct”, he said.
What Is Women’s Reservation Bill?
The Women’s reservation bill or the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed in Parliament in September 2023. The bill provides for setting aside one third or 33 o per cent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
The move aims to bolster the representation of women candidates in the political and legislative landscape of the country.
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