PM Modi's Open Letter to the Women of the Nation: Reiterates Commitment to Women's Reservation by 2029, States—Democracy Will Be Strengthened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has penned an open letter addressed to women. In it, he stated that if the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are conducted with the provision for women’s reservation, Indian democracy will become even stronger and more vibrant. The Prime Minister has written this letter to the women of the nation, observing that women are currently making strides in every field. Therefore, he emphasized, it is crucial to increase their representation in Parliament and the State Assemblies.

The Central Government has convened a special three-day session of Parliament starting April 16. During this session, necessary amendments will be made to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Act). PM Modi asserted that any further delay in this matter would constitute an injustice to the women of India. He firmly emphasized that the nation’s daughters can no longer wait for their rightful entitlements. According to him, when women’s voices resonate strongly within the House, democracy itself is strengthened.

The Need for Implementation in 2029

Parliament passed the Women’s Reservation Act in September 2023. This legislation mandates the reservation of one-third of the total seats for women. Under the original provisions, this reservation could not have been implemented before 2034. The reason for this was that the implementation of the reservation was linked to the processes of the national census and the redetermination of constituencies (delimitation). The government is now amending the rules to ensure that this reservation can be implemented as early as the 2029 elections.

The Women’s Reservation Act

Once these amendments are passed, the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha will increase to 816. Of these, 273 seats will be reserved for women. PM Modi has sought the blessings of the nation’s millions of women for this historic initiative. He has also issued a special appeal to women, urging them to write letters to the Members of Parliament (MPs) representing their respective constituencies. He encouraged them to encourage their MPs to participate in this historic parliamentary session. The Prime Minister has also shared this letter on social media platforms.