Proposed amendment to women quota law may boost women-led development: Minister

Union Minister Annpurna Devi said the proposed amendment to the women’s reservation law will boost women’s participation in governance and mark a golden era of development. The move is expected to significantly increase representation in Parliament and state assemblies

New Delhi: Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi on Wednesday said the proposed amendment to the women’s reservation law would turn out to be the beginning of a “golden era” of women-led development in the country.

In a post on X, Devi said women’s participation in India’s development journey is not only essential but also transformative, and the constitutional amendment providing reservation for women will ensure their greater participation in Parliament and state legislatures.

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“The new constitutional amendment related to women’s reservation marks the beginning of a new golden era in the country,” she said.

The minister said the move would make policy-making more sensitive, inclusive and result-oriented, while the increasing presence of women in governance would bring a new perspective, greater balance and a stronger commitment to public welfare.

At present, only 74 of the 543 members in the Lok Sabha are women, she said, adding that after delimitation and 33 per cent reservation, the number is expected to rise to 269 in a House of 816 members.

She also said the number of women legislators in state assemblies is expected to increase from around 390 at present to 2,041 after the implementation of the reservation.

“This change is not only an expansion of representation but also a historic step towards building a developed India led by the power of women,” Devi said.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said in India’s growth story, women’s representation in policy-making is not just essential but also transformative.

“The new amendments to the women’s reservation bill will herald a new golden era,” Thakur said on X.

“This marks a historic leap towards women-led development and true inclusivity in legislative processes, spanning Parliament and all state assemblies. With more women in legislative roles, we are ushering in a new era of focused, empathetic and outcome-driven governance that benefits every citizen,” she added.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, more popularly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, was passed by Parliament in 2023. Under the law, 33 per cent reservation will be given to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The law, brought by amending the Constitution, will come into effect after the completion of the delimitation exercise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week announced an extension of the Budget session of Parliament by three days, from April 16 to 18, so that the Women’s Reservation Act can be amended for its implementation from 2029.