Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries B. Srinivasa Varma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given top priority to women’s empowerment since assuming office in 2014. Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada today, the Union Minister said the Modi government remained committed to ensuring greater representation for women in legislatures through the Women’s Reservation Bill. He alleged that governments before 2014 limited promises on women’s representation to election assurances without implementing meaningful reforms. 

 

The Union Minister said the NDA government introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament in 2023 after extensive consultations and discussions with various stakeholders. Mr Varma said the Centre intended to implement a 33% reservation for women in legislatures at the earliest. He accused the Congress and its alliance partners of attempting to stall the Bill through various objections and political arguments. He said women across the country had strongly supported the legislation and were expecting its implementation.  

 

The Union Minister said the Modi government had introduced several welfare schemes focused on women’s development and empowerment. He added that the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh was also committed to women’s welfare and empowerment initiatives. Referring to delimitation, Mr Varma dismissed concerns that southern states would face injustice, calling such claims misleading political propaganda.  He said the Centre aimed to ensure fair representation for all states based on population while implementing women’s reservation.