'Can't be deferred any longer': PM Modi appeals to women across India on 33% quota bill

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made an appeal to women across the country, asking them to urge political parties and their representatives to help pass the amendment to the women’s reservation legislation, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which aims to fast track the implementation of the 33 per cent reservations to women in state assemblies and Parliament to before 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He also wrote a blog post asking women to help pass the bill, saying that this is a legislation that cannot be delayed anymore.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet passed the draft legislation which will be introduced in a special session of Parliament set to convene from April 16. The proposed delimitation exercise would expand the Lok Sabha from its current 543 seats to 816, with roughly one-third of the enlarged House (273 seats) earmarked for women. The reservation will apply vertically, extending to women within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories as well.

“From my experience over two and a half decades as the head of state, I can say that to make Vikshit Bharat a reality, we must ensure that women have 33% representation in our politics. A few years ago, we passed the Nari Shakti Bill and we found support from all parties, they all feel that women should have their rightful place by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections,” Modi said in a video.

He added that his government has started talks with all political parties, and has received positive feedback.

In an article, printed in several papers as well as his blog, Modi added that a special session of Parliament is being convened from April 16 to see the passage of the legislation. “To describe this merely as a legislative exercise would be an understatement. 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,” Modi wrote.

“Today, India is witnessing remarkable achievements by women across every field... Over the years, sustained efforts have been made to create an enabling environment for women’s empowerment,” he added.

Modi said that despite attempts, the representation of women in politics and legislative bodies has not always been representative of their role in society. “This is particularly unfortunate because 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,” he argued in the piece.

He said that while the legislation was passed in September 2023, to ensure 33 per cent representation of women in state assemblies and Parliament by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, “this is a moment that cannot be deferred any longer”, he said. “Every delay in advancing women’s representation is, in effect, a delay in strengthening the quality and inclusiveness of our democracy,” he added.

Urging that the moment called for “collective action”, Modi said asking all members of Parliament, too, to come forward to help pass the amendment to the bill.