Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the women’s reservation bill, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, reflects the aspirations of crores of women across the country.

In an op-ed, Modi described the legislation as an affirmation of India’s long-standing civilisational principle that society progresses when women progress. “It is a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India,” he noted.

Highlighting the role of women in nation-building, the Prime Minister said women constitute nearly half of India’s population and their contributions span across sectors including science, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, armed forces, music and the arts.

He further pointed out that sustained efforts in recent years — such as improved access to education, healthcare, financial inclusion and basic amenities — have strengthened women’s participation in economic and social spheres.

At the same time, Modi termed the low representation of women in legislative bodies as “unfortunate”, stressing that greater participation of women in governance would enrich public discourse and enhance decision-making.

“It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and upcoming Assembly elections are conducted with women’s reservation in place,” he said, adding that previous governments had made several attempts to ensure greater representation for women.

Recalling the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September 2023, the Prime Minister described it as one of the most significant moments of his life. He noted that while earlier efforts did not materialise, a broad consensus had always existed on the need to enhance women’s representation in democratic institutions.