In September 2023, Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, which provides for reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies
PM Modi addresses gathering at Delhi-Dehradun Expressway inauguration on Tuesday in Dehradun. Pic/ PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the Women’s Reservation Act was passed after a long wait and urged all political parties to support its implementation in the 2029 elections without further delay, calling it the “collective sentiment” of the nation, PTI reported.
Call for consensus on women’s quota
“Let all political parties come together to unanimously take forward this initiative, which concerns the rights of the nation’s sisters and daughters,” he said at a public meeting ahead of the three-day special sittings of Parliament from April 16 to consider a legislative package, including amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, to implement the quota for women from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Landmark law passed after decades
In September 2023, Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, which provides for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
Appeal from Uttarakhand rally
“Today, from Devbhumi (Uttarakhand), I once again appeal to all political parties across the country to extend their full support to the amendment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. In 2029, we will ensure that 50 per cent of our country’s population receives its rightful due,” Modi said, the news agency reported.
He noted that all political parties had come forward to support the landmark Act, which was passed after a wait of four decades.
“There should be no further delay in delivering this rightful entitlement to women, and the Act should be fully implemented starting with the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2029,” Modi said, PTI reported.
“This reflects the collective sentiment of the nation. It is the cherished wish of every sister and daughter across the country,” the Prime Minister added at the public meeting following the inauguration of the Delhi–Dehradun economic corridor.
Letter to women across India
Modi also said he has written a letter addressed to “all the sisters of the country”, urging them to become partners in this endeavour.
“I have firm faith that the mothers and sisters of my country will certainly read this letter,” he said.
He asserted that Indian democracy will become stronger and more vibrant if the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held with the women’s quota fully in place.
Women key to ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision
In his letter, Modi added that when women become active participants in policymaking and decision-making, the journey towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’ is strengthened.
“Thus, it is imperative that we do whatever is possible to add more vigour to our development trajectory, and for that, the active participation of women is absolutely non-negotiable,” he said, the news agency reported.
The Prime Minister noted that this principle led to the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in 2023 and continues to drive the push for its implementation.
He added that with women excelling across fields, it is only fitting that their representation in legislative bodies increases.
(With PTI inputs)
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