Country all set to take historic step towards women’s empowerment: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that his government is resolutely moving forward for empowerment of women in the three-day special sitting of Parliament.

His remarks came ahead of the start of the special sitting during which the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as Women Reservation Act, will be amended for its implementation in 2029.

"In the special sitting of Parliament, beginning today, our country is all set to take a historic step towards women's empowerment. The respect for our mothers and sisters is the respect for the nation, and with this very spirit, we are moving forward resolutely in this direction," Modi said in a post on X in Hindi.

He also quoted a Sanskrit shubashitam that conveyed:

“A woman, with the light of her knowledge, dispels the darkness of ignorance and illuminates the entire world. Therefore, those who aspire for prosperity and noble virtues always honour and respect women.”

As per the Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls following a delimitation exercise to be carried out on the basis of last published census.

Seats would also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

The seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies "shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union territory," the bill circulated among Lok Sabha members said.

In this special session from April 16 to 18, the union government will propose to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act).

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister had said that Indian democracy would be stronger and more vibrant if women’s reservation is fully implemented ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

In a letter addressed to the women of the country, he noted that as women continue to excel across sectors, it is only appropriate that their representation in legislative bodies also increases.

He urged that amendments related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam be passed during the three-day special session. He warned that any further delay would be both unfortunate and a grave injustice to women in India.

“Our democracy will become stronger and more vibrant if the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and various Assembly elections that year are held with women’s reservation fully in place,” he said in the letter shared on his personal X handle.

Appealing to all parties to ensure the timely implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill, leaders from the Centre for Social Research, on Tuesday, called the enactment of the Bill a “historic step toward correcting India’s long-standing democratic deficit in political representation”.

Speaking at a press conference at the Press Club of India, Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research and chairperson of Women Power Connect, urged political parties to move beyond partisan differences and operationalise the legislation without delay.

“We urge all political parties, across ideological lines, to rise above partisan considerations and ensure the timely and effective implementation of this landmark reform in the forthcoming Special Session of Parliament," said Kumari.

Several organisations, including Women Power Connect, the Joint Women Programme, CEQUIN, and Action India, participated in the press conference. Organisers said women remain significantly underrepresented in India's highest decision-making bodies, with representation in the Lok Sabha at approximately 14 per cent, far below the global average (27.2 per cent).

(With inputs from PTI and Press Information Bureau)