Indore, Apr 14 (PTI) The Modi government is taking forward Dr B R Ambedkar’s vision of women empowerment through the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Tuesday, describing the law as the “biggest decision of the 21st Century”.
He noted that the law will increase the representation of half the population in legislative bodies- the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies.
Yadav visited Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthplace at Mhow on his 135th birth anniversary and paid tribute at his memorial.
Referring to the provisions for maternity leave, maintenance allowance, and rights in parents’ property, the Chief Minister said that Ambedkar always worked for women’s empowerment.
“Carrying forward Ambedkar’s vision of women empowerment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This will ensure that half the population gets adequate representation in these legislative bodies,” Yadav told reporters.
He said this “biggest decision of the 21st Century” should be seen in the context of the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The chief minister said Ambedkar worked towards social harmony even before the country became independent and fought for the rights of the underprivileged. “After Independence, he drafted the Constitution that gave equal rights to all sections of society”, he added.
Yadav said the Congress should repent its act to not let Ambedkar win a Lok Sabha election.
“The Congress betrayed Ambedkar at every step. The soul of Babasaheb will never forgive the Congress leaders,” he said.
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 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 government is holding a special sitting to pass the amendments to the law. PTI HWP MAS NSK
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