Women demonstrated under the leadership of AIDWA in Shimla demanding immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act. He submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding removal of the condition linking the law to census and delimitation.
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [भारत]July 21 (ANI): Hundreds of women, led by All India Janawadi Mahila Samiti (AIDWA), on Tuesday marched to Lok Bhawan in Shimla and later reached Raj Bhawan. There she submitted a memorandum to the President and the Prime Minister through the Governor, demanding immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act.
The Committee urged the Center not to link the implementation of the Act to the completion of the census and delimitation exercise and called for removing such conditions. The protest was part of a nationwide campaign by women’s organizations demanding immediate implementation of 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. Along with the memorandum, the delegation also submitted signatures collected during a statewide campaign in Himachal Pradesh.
Demand to implement the law in its original form
Speaking to ANI after the march, Falma Chauhan, state secretary of All India Janwadi Mahila Samiti (AIDWA), Himachal Pradesh, said that the alliance of women’s organizations across the country has only one demand, which is the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act in its original form. Chouhan told ANI, “Our only demand is that the 33 percent women’s reservation act be implemented as it is. This law was passed by the central government in 2023 under the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’, but even after three years it has not been implemented. We want the government to implement it during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.”
He said that women’s organizations had submitted memorandums to political parties a few days ago and had also conducted a signature campaign in Himachal Pradesh, which was now being sent to the Prime Minister through the Governor.
Emphasis on removing the conditions of census and delimitation
Chouhan alleged that conditions attached to the implementation of the law, including completion of the national census and subsequent delimitation exercise, were delaying its enforcement. He said, “The government should amend the Constitution to remove the conditions related to census and delimitation, including the provisions inserted under Article 334A. These conditions should be withdrawn so that the law can be immediately implemented for the next Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.”
Had it been applicable this would have been the picture
According to Chauhan, if this law had been implemented earlier, the representation of women in Parliament would have been much higher. “Instead of just 77 women MPs, about 123 women could have been elected to Parliament. In Himachal Pradesh, there are only three women members in the Assembly today. If this Act had been implemented, about 23 women would have been elected to the 68-member Assembly, thereby ensuring greater participation in policy-making,” she said.
Announcement to continue the movement
Questioning the timeline of implementation, Chouhan argued that there is no certainty on when the census or delimitation process will be completed. “The country is very big. No one knows how much time the census and delimitation exercise will take. Attaching these conditions to the implementation of the Act shows that the government does not intend to implement it as soon as possible,” he alleged.
He said that until the law is implemented, women’s organizations across India will continue their agitation. Chauhan said, “Our agitation will continue. A delegation from Himachal Pradesh will participate in the nationwide event to be held in Delhi on the 10th. Women from across the country are already holding a series of hunger strikes there, and our campaign will continue until the Act is implemented.”
Appealing to the Governor to put pressure on the Center for immediate action, Chauhan said that the women are not asking for any dole, but are demanding their constitutional rights. He said, “Women constitute almost half of the country’s population and also constitute a major part of the voters. We are not asking for any dole; we are demanding our rights. We have urged the Governor to impress upon the Central government that the Women’s Reservation Act should be implemented immediately and in its original form.”
The protest in Shimla was part of a coordinated nationwide campaign by women’s organizations demanding that the Women’s Reservation Act be implemented without any further delay or pre-conditions. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)