Indian Democracy Will Be Stronger And Vibrant If Women Quota Is Implemented: PM Modi Hails 'Nari Shakti'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that Indian democracy will become stronger and more vibrant if elections to the Lok Sabha and various assemblies in 2029 are held with the women's reservation fully in place.

PM Modi said that women across India are appreciating the initiative to ensure reservation for women in legislative bodies. Sharing a letter addressed to India's Nari Shakti (women of the country), the Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to implement what he said has been pending for decades.

He said that with women excelling in several fields, it is only fitting that women's participation in legislative bodies increases. He said the amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' should be passed in the three-day special sittings of Parliament, beginning April 16, and that any further delay would be unfortunate and a gross injustice to the women of 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.

The Prime Minister said the daughters of India cannot be asked to wait endlessly for what is rightfully theirs. "When the voice of women becomes stronger in our legislatures, the voice of democracy itself becomes stronger," he said.

The Prime Minister further pointed out that Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on April 16 to deliberate on a crucial constitutional amendment related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. "In the next two days, on the 16th, Parliament will reconvene to discuss and hopefully pass an important constitutional amendment relating to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. I am seeing that there is immense enthusiasm towards this. Women from all over the nation are expressing their joy at getting a stronger opportunity to contribute towards building a Viksit Bharat," PM Modi said.

"I seek your blessings and the blessings of crores of women across the length and breadth of India for the upcoming Parliament sitting and for the passage of the constitutional amendment. I urge you all to write to your local MPs and encourage them as they participate in this historic Parliament sitting," the PM added.

In his letter, PM Modi also praised the growing role of women in various sectors, describing their contributions as one of the most encouraging developments of recent times. "All of you, our Nari Shakti, are making your mark in every aspect of national life, and this active contribution is one of the most gladdening developments of our times. Look at the world of StartUps...so many of them have women in leadership roles. Science and innovation, which are guiding the progress of humankind in the 21st century, have seen an increasing participation of women. The same is the case in academics, literature, art, music, cinema, dance and heritage," PM Modi said.

In September 2023, the Parliament had passed the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', known as the Women's Reservation Act, marking a significant step towards enhancing women's representation in legislative bodies. The Act provided for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies.

The amendments to the Women's Reservation Act, when passed, will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.

The provision for a 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was introduced by amending the Constitution in 2023.

Under the current law, the reservation for women would not have become enforceable before 2034, as it was tied to the completion of the delimitation exercise post 2027 Census.

The government is holding a special sitting on April 16 to pass the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as changes were needed to implement it from 2029 Lok Sabha elections.