New Delhi: As Parliament prepares for a special three-day session to deliberate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Centre has launched a wide-ranging outreach initiative, inviting women from across the country to witness the proceedings. The move aims to highlight the significance of the debate and ensure representation from diverse sections of society.
Women from varied backgrounds, including grassroots workers, self-help group members, sanitation staff and beneficiaries of government schemes, are being brought to the national capital. Political parties such as Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena are also mobilising women leaders, legislators and first-time visitors to attend the session, reflecting a broad-based effort to make the occasion inclusive.
The special sitting will focus on amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023, with the aim of enabling 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies ahead of earlier timelines. Narendra Modi is expected to outline the government’s roadmap during the debate, which will span extended hours in both Houses before a scheduled vote.
The proposed changes seek to address delays linked to census and delimitation requirements. The government is considering using 2011 Census data to fast-track implementation, potentially allowing the reservation to take effect by the 2029 general elections instead of being pushed further.
Another key proposal involves increasing the total strength of the Lok Sabha beyond its current size, ensuring that seats can be reserved for women without reducing representation for existing members. This expansion is also expected to raise the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Additionally, a planned delimitation exercise based on earlier census data aims to balance representation across states while avoiding concerns over population-based disparities.
The initiative has also seen outreach to opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking consensus on the reform. The legislation will require constitutional amendments with broad parliamentary support, making the upcoming session a crucial moment in shaping women’s political representation in India.
