The One Hundred and Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has come into force from yesterday. In 2023, Parliament passed the Act, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s journey to foster equitable representation of women in public life at all levels of the federal structure. This landmark legislation provides for rotational reservation of one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and in all State Legislative Assemblies, including the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the notification of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been issued to implement long-pending laws that were not enforced earlier. Speaking to the media at the Parliament premises, Mr. Rijiju emphasized that this is part of an ongoing process and urged the Opposition not to politicise the matter.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma described the Women’s Reservation Bill as historic and said it offers an opportunity for the Opposition to correct its mistakes. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, Mr. Sharma also criticised the Congress for not doing enough for the upliftment of women during its time in power.
Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha has welcomed the Women’s Reservation Bill and described it as a long-awaited step. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, Mr Jha said that the move to provide one-third reservation for women has come after considerable delay and should be backed unanimously. Highlighting Bihar’s experience, he noted that more than 50 per cent of women have been elected to Panchayats in the state, creating a strong base of women leaders over multiple election cycles.
BJP MP from Chhattisgarh, Laxmi Verma has termed the Women’s Reservation Bill as a moment of great pride, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for advancing women’s empowerment. Ms Verma said that the move opens new opportunities for women, who constitute nearly 50 per cent of the country’s population, by bringing them into leadership roles and policymaking. She noted that the step will contribute significantly to India’s vision for 2047, positioning the country as a Golden India on the global stage.
