Activists seek immediate rollout of Women’s Reservation Act, oppose delimitation link

Women’s rights organisations, activists and representatives of several political parties on Sunday have demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, guaranteeing 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Delhi assembly, without linking it to the Census and delimitation process.

The demand was raised at a consultation organised here by women’s rights and feminist organisations in solidarity with the National Coalition for Women’s Reservation (NCWR).

The participants argued that although the Act was passed through the 106th Constitutional Amendment in 2023, as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, its implementation has been indefinitely delayed by making it contingent upon the completion of the next Census and delimitation exercise.

They alleged that this has effectively denied women their constitutional right to adequate political representation in Parliament and State legislative assemblies.

The gathering also expressed concern over proposals to expand the strength of Parliament through delimitation, claiming such measures could weaken federalism and alter the balance of representation among States. According to key speakers Shantha Sinha and Rama Melkote, women’s reservation should be implemented at the existing strength of Parliament without any expansion of seats.

Among the key demands, the participants called for an amendment to delink the Women’s Reservation Act from Census and delimitation, immediate enforcement of 33% reservation and removal of the Act’s 15-year sunset clause. They also sought a transparent and participatory process for identifying reserved constituencies, ensuring representation for Dalit, Adivasi, OBC, minority, transgender and other marginalised women.

The participating organisations announced that they would launch a Statewide campaign, meet elected representatives and urge Parliament to implement the law without further delay or conditions.

Leaders present were former chairpersons of the State Women’s Commission, Sharadha Nerella and Tripurana Venkataratnam, Kalvakuntla Kavitha (TRS), Sumithra Anand Tanoba (BRS), Lakshmi Raghulapally (TJS), Shanta (BSP), Mallu Lakshmi and Asha (CPM & AIDWA), Pasya Padma and Krishna Kumari (CPI & NFIW), Anasuya, V. Sandhya and Jhansi (CPI-ML-New Democracy & POW), Jyoti Bannuru (CMS) and Vimalakka (Arunodaya).