Several women’s organisations, civil society groups and social organisations have come together to demand the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023. They have urged the Centre to amend the law during the Monsoon Session of Parliament by removing the conditions that link its implementation to the Census and delimitation process.

The demand was raised at a press conference organised by All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) in Rohtak, attended by representatives of various organisations. The speakers accused the Central Government of unnecessarily delaying the implementation of the Act.

The organisations also announced a protest programme at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from July 20 to August 13, coinciding with the Parliament session, to press the government for immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act.

“The demand for one-third reservation for women in legislatures has been pending for decades. The first Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced in 1996, nearly 30 years ago. Although the Women’s Reservation Act was finally passed in 2023, its implementation was made contingent on the completion of the next Census and subsequent delimitation exercise,” said Dr Jagmati Sangwan, National Vice-President of AIDWA.

She accused the Centre of using delimitation as a political tool to delay women’s reservation, and pointed out that women currently constitute only about 13 per cent of the Lok Sabha and less than 9 per cent of State Legislative Assemblies. Any further delay in implementing the reservation would amount to denying women their long-pending constitutional right, she added.

Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti’s Samata convener Manisha said the Centre should amend the Act during the Monsoon Session and enforce 33 per cent reservation without waiting for the Census and delimitation.

Among those present were AIDWA Central Committee member Prof Manjeet Rathi, State General Secretary Usha Saroha, State President Savita, State Committee member Rajkumari Dahiya, district joint secretary Munmun Hazarika, CITU Working Women’s Coordination Committee co-convener Kiran, noted historian and retired professor Dr Neelima Dahiya, INLD Women’s Wing State General Secretary Sushila Deshwal, and Jan Sangharsh Manch State Vice-President Dr Sunita Tyagi.