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Malini Awasthi Calls Women's Reservation Act a Historic Boost for Nari Shakti

Folk singer Malini Awasthi has hailed the government's move to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act as a historic step for greater female participation in politics. She praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative, stating that no nation can progress without women. The plan involves using 2011 census data for delimitation, which could increase Lok Sabha seats to 816, with about 273 reserved for women. The government aims to proceed without waiting for a new census to ensure fair representation for women in Parliament.

Key Points: Women's Reservation Act: Malini Awasthi Hails Historic Step

  • Act operationalises women's quota in Parliament
  • Delimitation to use 2011 census data
  • Lok Sabha seats may rise to 816
  • 273 seats likely reserved for women
2 min read

Malini Awasthi hails Nari Shakti Vandan Act as major boost for women in politics, calls it "historic" step

Folk singer Malini Awasthi praises PM Modi for the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, a historic move to boost women's political participation in India.

"This is a significant historic moment in Indian history. - Malini Awasthi"

New Delhi, April 13

Folk singer Malini Awasthi welcomed the Centre's approval of draft amendment bills to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act, calling it an important step for women's participation in politics and national decision-making.

Speaking about the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, Malini said the move was a "significant initiative" in India's history and added that women must have a stronger voice in politics.

"I believe this is a significant initiative in India's history. Politically, women should have greater participation. What could be more beautiful than this? Women will be able to take their views to the highest house of the country and perhaps even address issues that remain untouched," Malini said.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative, adding that no country can move ahead without women playing an equal role.

"The country has been demanding this for a long time. I am very happy that the Prime Minister himself has taken the initiative... No nation can progress without women. This is a significant historic moment in Indian history," she added.

The Parliament is set to meet for a three-day special session from April 16, with a focus on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill.

The Government has planned two major amendments. 2023's Nari Shakti Vandan Act ties women's reservation to the new census and delimitation. Due to census delays, the plan is to proceed with the 2011 census data.

The 2011 census is to be the basis for delimitation and seat redistribution. Lok Sabha seats may increase from 543 to 816 post-amendment. A bill will be introduced in Parliament to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation.

The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Keeping up with the status quo, there is no provision for OBC reservation, and SC/ST reservation will continue. However, states won't have a role; the bill passed by Parliament will apply to them. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50% increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women.

The government's key point is that they won't wait for a new census to give women, comprising half the country's population, fair representation in Parliament. Instead, delimitation will be done using the 2011 census data.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
A much-needed step, but the devil is in the details. Using 2011 census data for delimitation seems like a shortcut. Population distribution has changed significantly in 13 years. Will this truly lead to fair representation?
A
Ananya R
As a young woman from a small town, this gives me hope. Maybe one day, someone like me can also think of serving the nation in Parliament. It's about time we moved beyond tokenism to real participation.
S
Siddharth J
Increasing Lok Sabha seats to 816 is a massive structural change. While women's reservation is welcome, we must ensure this doesn't become overly bureaucratic or dilute regional representation. The focus should be on quality, not just quantity.
M
Meera T
Malini Awasthi is right. No nation can progress by leaving half its population behind. My mother and grandmother fought for this. Seeing it come to fruition feels emotional. Let's hope it translates to better policies for women's safety, education, and health.
K
Karthik V
Good move, but the exclusion of OBC reservation within the women's quota is a missed opportunity. It risks creating a reservation only for women from certain privileged sections. True empowerment must be inclusive across all communities.

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