New Delhi, Apr 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a national-level women’s conference here on Monday ahead of a Parliament sitting during which the proposed amendments to the women’s reservation law are expected to be brought for consideration and passage.
The conference, ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan’, is being organised to reinforce the commitment towards greater participation of women in shaping India’s development trajectory, an official statement said.
It will also highlight the increasing role of women in governance and leadership across all levels — from panchayats to Parliament.
The conference will underscore the importance of enhanced representation of women in decision-making processes. It will highlight the role of women in the journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, the statement said.
It will reflect the government’s continued commitment to women-led development as a central pillar of the vision for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, it said.
The programme will witness participation of eminent personalities and women achievers from diverse fields.
It will bring together representatives from different sectors such as government, academia, science, sports, entrepreneurship, media, social work and culture.
In September 2023, Parliament passed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, marking a significant step towards enhancing women’s representation in legislative bodies.
The Act provides for the reservation of 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies.
With a focus on the implementation of women’s reservation across the country, the Budget session has been extended and a three-day sitting of Parliament is being convened from April 16.
The Women’s Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.
The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023. However, the women’s quota would have come into effect only after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census.
This meant the reservation would not have become enforceable before 2034. To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections onwards, changes are needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
