‘Nari shakti’ law: Promise must meet practice

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a historic step that fulfils BR Ambedkar’s vision and ends “decades of waiting” for women’s political representation. The law, passed in 2023, provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, with implementation expected around 2029 after delimitation. A special parliamentary session is planned from April 16 to 18 to pass the enabling amendments, including changes to the delimitation Act. It links women’s reservation to a delimitation exercise that would redraw constituencies and expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats, with 273 seats reserved for women. However, the proposal has triggered a sharp political divide over its design. Opposition parties support reservation but argue the government is using it as a pretext to push a broader delimitation agenda that could alter the country’s political map based on the 2011 Census.

At the core of the reservation policy is the poor record on women’s representation. Women currently make up only about 13-14% of Lok Sabha members, rising from nearly 5% in the early decades after Independence. In state Assemblies, the average is around 9%, with very few states crossing the 15-20% mark. This persistent gap highlights the distance between constitutional equality and political reality. In this view, the law is undeniably a long-overdue correction. Greater participation of women will reshape policymaking and deepen democracy.

However, concerns remain over delay and design. Linking its implementation to delimitation could postpone meaningful change and dilute its impact. There is also the concern that constitutional ideals are being used for political messaging rather than urgent reform. Ultimately, the measure will be judged by whether it delivers timely and genuine representation to women in our legislatures.