An AIDWA delegation meeting former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Gurugram on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
A delegation of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) on Saturday met Leader of Opposition and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and urged immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act without linking it to census or delimitation.
The delegation was led by AIDWA national vice-president Jagmati Sangwan and included State general secretary Usha Saroha, treasurer Amita Malik, Rajkumari Dahiya, Munmun, and Poonam Nehra.
Raising concern over poor political representation of women, Ms. Sangwan said women make up half of the country’s population but their presence in decision-making bodies remains abysmally low. “Even after 78 years of Independence, women’s representation in Parliament is only 13% and in State Assemblies just 9%. In contrast, countries like Cuba, Mexico, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Andorra and UAE have crossed 50% representation,” she said.
She noted that reservation in panchayats, block samitis and zila parishads had increased women’s participation at the grassroots level. However, she alleged that the provision was not being implemented in its true spirit. “In practice, 50% reservation has effectively been extended to men. Moreover, in the last 10 years, conditions like educational qualifications, electricity bill clearance and toilet requirements have deprived a large number of women, Dalits and other marginalised sections from contesting elections,” Ms. Sangwan added.
State general secretary Usha Saroha said AIDWA and other progressive organisations had struggled for decades to secure 33% reservation for women, which led to the passage of the Women’s Reservation Law in Parliament. “Nearly three years have passed, but the law is yet to be implemented. The BJP government has linked it to census and delimitation, which is only delaying women’s political rights indefinitely. At the same time, it is blaming the opposition for the delay,” she said.
AIDWA said women’s reservation is an independent democratic right and should not be tied to any other political process. The organisation put forth four key demands: immediate implementation of the Act delinked from census and delimitation; 33% reservation in Parliament and Assemblies without further delay; removal of all restrictive conditions; and ensuring women’s representation before the upcoming elections.
Announcing its next step, AIDWA said women from the organisation and other groups will stage a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar from July 20 to August 13 during the Monsoon Session of Parliament in support of the demands.
Published - July 12, 2026 12:00 am IST