Chandigarh, Apr 13 (PTI) Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi here on Monday presided over a meeting emphasising coordinated implementation, effective outreach and active participation of all departments to ensure the success of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’.
The statewide campaign is being conducted from April 10 to 20, with a series of outreach and awareness activities planned across the state, an official statement said.
During the meeting, a comprehensive programme was outlined to promote awareness about the Women’s Reservation Act and encourage active public participation, particularly among women.
The campaign will include press conferences, town hall meetings, women’s conventions, padyatras, bike and scooty rallies, as well as cultural and social outreach initiatives.
The meeting also noted that local bodies, including municipal corporations, municipal councils and panchayati raj institutions, will pass resolutions in support of the Act, which will be forwarded to higher authorities.
‘Nari Shakti Walls’ will be set up at prominent locations to encourage women to express their views and register support for the initiative.
Chairing the meeting, Chief Secretary Rastogi also underlined that the initiative will play a significant role in strengthening women empowerment and building wider public awareness across Haryana.
As per the schedule, press conferences are being organised at major media centres, while town hall programmes will be held from April 12 to 15 at key locations, ensuring participation of women leaders and representatives from social organisations.
Women’s conventions are planned between April 11 and 16, focusing on participation of women speakers and engagement with community groups. In addition, ‘Nari Shakti padyatras’ will be organised on April 15 and 16 in each parliamentary constituency, involving students, self-help groups, NCC and NSS volunteers to enhance outreach at the grassroots level.
Bike and scooty rallies will also be conducted from April 13 to 16 at prominent locations, with exclusive participation of women, aimed at spreading awareness and reinforcing the message of women empowerment.
The campaign will further leverage social media and public engagement platforms. Articles and opinion pieces will be written by women thought leaders, while digital outreach through videos, podcasts and online campaigns will be undertaken to maximise visibility and impact.
Cultural activities such as street plays, folk performances and art-based initiatives will also be organised to create awareness at the grassroots level.
Chairperson, Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Sumita Misra, were among those who attended the meeting.
In September 2023, the 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 provided for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies.
The amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act, when passed, 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.
Under the current law, the reservation for women would not have become enforceable before 2034, as it was tied to the completion of the delimitation exercise post 2027 Census.
To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, changes were needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; hence, the central government is holding special sitting to pass the amendments to the law. PTI SUN NB NB
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