A say in the decision-making process has long been elusive for many women. Yet with Narendra Modi at the helm, both as the CM of Gujarat and PM of India, women-led development has become a tangible reality. Today names like Chhavi Rajawat, Sushma Bhadu, and Arati Devi stand tall as the brand ambassadors of this monumental change that is taking shape at the grassroot level.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a long-awaited, well-deserved milestone in this journey ahead, further enriching the content of ideas like equality and inclusivity. The Act mandates 33% reservation to women in the Parliament and the state legislative assemblies. A legislative achievement in itself, the passing of the Act is clearly indicative of a societal shift—a shift ushered in by the transformative reforms of the Modi government in the last nine years. Following the impactful implementation of initiatives such as the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the progressive maternity benefit law, the introduction of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam emerges as a natural and complementary addition to this comprehensive reform framework.
According to PM Modi, the Act will change the mood of Matrushakti, and the confidence that it will create will emerge as an unimaginable force for taking the country to newer heights. Indeed, the Act is significant in many respects.
To begin with, it signifies a pivotal step towards recognizing and celebrating the strength and potential inherent in every woman. Women sarpanches in India are known for their trailblazing work, proving that women-led development initiatives carry both meaning and material. For instance, Sushma Bhadu is known for her successful fight against the age-old tradition of ghunghat or veil, still prevalent in many parts of rural India. Chhavi Rajawat, on the other hand, transformed the face of her village via construction of toilets, desilting of traditional water bodies and sustenance of the agrarian economy along with urging corporates to take up social development projects in her area. In fact, we find multiple instances in ancient Indian life where women have been at the forefront of administration. It is said that Chandragupta Maurya’s wife Kumaradevi played an active role in the state’s administration. Women of Bhauma-Kara dynasty of eastern India ascended to the royal throne and ruled with admirable efficiency.
Yet as India reeled under the burdens of Islamic invasions, colonialism and ills of a discriminatory social structure, apathy seeped in and women have been at the receiving end of this unbecoming scenario. Post Independence, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh has been an ardent supporter of constitutional guarantees to women, including reservation. PM Modi himself has always been an active voice in favor of greater representation of women in policy making. He had unequivocally supported the demand of women’s reservation in Parliament and state legislatures way back in 2000 when he was serving as the general secretary of the BJP. The issue had been on the political table for nearly 27 years now courtesy the vacillating positions of multiple political parties. Yet today under the decisive leadership of PM Modi, this aspiration has finally become a reality.
Going forward, it shall not only complement the contributions of women who have previously served in public life but also enrich the Indian social and political milieu with perspectives that are diverse and policies that are well-informed.
Today, there are multiple national and international studies suggesting that women leaders tend to invest more in public goods intrinsically linked with holistic development like health, drinking water, primary education, and roads. In fact, when the elected leader is a female, there are chances of a reduced gender gap in educational attainment and hence results in girls spending lesser time on domestic chores. Another study indicates that reservation for women in gram panchayats has reduced the bias against women candidates and has encouraged more and more women to come forward and contest and even win elections. The 17th Lok Sabha for example has the highest ever number of women MPs—a total of 78 or nearly 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
And accordingly, the Act will encourage women in state legislatures to push women-centric policies and reforms, bringing in change at levels more conducive for expansion and impact. This is in line with the Modi government’s vision of women-led development instead of women’s development. The policies and schemes now would not merely be intended for women but would be crafted and implemented by women themselves.
Dr BR Ambedkar had regarded the progress of women as an authentic indicator of a nation’s development. Similarly, inclusion of the other half of humanity in the growth paradigm is essential if India is to emerge as a developed country by 2047. As Matri Devo Bhava reclaims its rightful place in the annals of Indian democracy, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam pioneered by the Modi government is set to infuse newfound energy into the national dialogue around growth, development and empowerment—sharing a peek into a more equitable future.
