NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India stands “on the brink of making history” as the long-pending women’s reservation in legislatures moves closer to implementation, asserting that the reform will deepen democracy and accelerate women-led development.Addressing the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan’ in Delhi, PM Modi said the proposed legislation reflects a collective aspiration that has been building across the country. He said Parliament is now close to taking a decisive step that would reshape representation in politics. PM Modi went on to add, “I’ve noticed that over the past few days, women across the country have been speaking out on this topic. Reaching the Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha will give wings to their dreams. From the freedom struggle to the decisions of the Constituent Assembly, Indian women have made immense contributions to laying the foundations of independent India… Wherever women have held positions in our country, from the President to the Prime Minister, they have created their own unique legacies. Even today, women hold key positions, from the President to the Finance Minister. They have enhanced both the dignity and pride of the country. Today, over 1.4 million women are successfully serving in local government bodies in India. In approximately 21 states, their participation in Panchayats has reached nearly 50 per cent. Whenever I discuss this topic with foreign guests, they are left speechless. They are astonished. This is no ordinary thing. This active participation of millions of women in politics and social life is astonishing even to the world’s most prominent leaders and political experts, and it brings immense pride to India…”He added that the government is committed to implementing the constitutional amendment within a clear timeline. “There was also a unanimous demand that it (Women’s Empowerment Act) should be implemented by 2029 at any cost… We are keeping the 2029 deadline in mind, a comprehensive discussion on this is going to take place in Parliament from April 16th. It is our endeavour and our desire that this work be done with mutual cooperation and participation, this time too... With everyone’s collective efforts, the dignity of the entire House will reach new heights. Every woman in the country will also be happy that every party has risen above politics and taken up this important task for their benefit…”Describing the move as transformative, he said, “This decision is dedicated to women’s power. It is dedicated to the veneration of women’s power. Our country’s Parliament is close to creating a new history. A new history that will realise the concepts of the past. One that will fulfil the resolutions of the future. A resolution for an India that is egalitarian, where social justice is not just a slogan, but a natural part of our work culture, our decision-making process. The time has come to end decades of waiting, from the state assemblies to the country’s Parliament; it is 16th, 17th and 18th April…”Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed the Centre’s push to operationalise the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, saying the proposed 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies would place women empowerment on “auto mode”.She said the initiative reflects a shift towards women-led development and highlighted welfare measures introduced under the current government. National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also praised the legislation, saying it fulfils Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of greater political representation for women and marks a structural change in decision-making space.The government is expected to bring the constitutional amendment and a delimitation bill during the upcoming special parliamentary session starting April 16.
