Bihar Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, initiated a “fun run” in Patna backing the Nari Shakti Vandan Act while discussions on the law continued in the Lok Sabha. The event aimed to showcase public backing for women’s empowerment, with participants running from Digha roundabout to JP Setu. Choudhary, waving the green flag, stressed the significance of women’s dignity, safety, and involvement in governance.
Samrat Choudhary, speaking at the event, highlighted the Act’s objective to secure 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, a move supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He acknowledged former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for prior initiatives in Bihar that enhanced women’s rights and representation. The Chief Minister observed that women’s enthusiastic participation indicated increasing support for the law and the broader empowerment of “Nari Shakti” in public life.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2023 and approved by President Droupadi Murmu, awaits implementation pending the next Census and delimitation exercise. This step is crucial to realign parliamentary constituencies and allocate seats for women based on updated population data, ensuring equitable representation. Efforts are underway within the government to expedite the process, including the proposal to utilize 2011 Census data to accelerate the initiative before upcoming elections.
Reports also suggest a potential plan to raise the Lok Sabha’s strength from 543 to approximately 816 seats, enabling around 33% reservation for women without significantly impacting current representation. Furthermore, discussions include exploring a separate legislative framework to establish a Delimitation Commission in this context.
