Former long jumper and Athletics Federation of India senior vice-president Anju Bobby George has praised the renewed effort for the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it a crucial move to enhance women’s representation in policymaking. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to extend the Budget Session of Parliament to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies from the 2029 general elections has been welcomed by Anju.
Anju emphasized that this initiative aligns with the ongoing discussions on women’s empowerment and their inclusion in leadership roles. She expressed her satisfaction with the acceptance of women in politics and highlighted the significance of having women’s voices heard effectively in legislative bodies. Anju believes that increased representation from various sectors, including sports, can facilitate better communication between policymakers and stakeholders on the ground.
The proposal by the Centre includes considering options like expanding the total number of seats in Parliament and Assemblies to accommodate the reservation without impacting current representation levels, while also addressing concerns related to delimitation. The Women’s Reservation Bill, passed in September 2023, was previously tied to the completion of the Census and delimitation process. The recent push aims to expedite the implementation timeline, with efforts to build consensus among political parties.
As discussions around the Women’s Reservation Bill gain traction, Anju’s statements add to the growing support from non-political spheres for the legislation as a step towards more inclusive governance.
