New Delhi, National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has said women in India are not merely participants but leaders who have demonstrated their capabilities across sectors, expressing confidence that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will be implemented soon to ensure greater representation of women in Parliament and state assemblies.
“Women in our country are not merely participants; they are women who lead the nation. And this is not just something we say. We have witnessed this since ancient times. “Initially, people wondered how women would function, assuming that they had come into the system only for five years.
Referring to the 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions, Rahatkar said there were initial doubts about whether women would be able to discharge their responsibilities effectively. However, women learned their work, and today, they have performed so well that many state governments have increased the reservation to 50 per cent,” she said. “Today, when we look back, we can see that women have performed exceptionally well under the 33 per cent reservation. This is why several state governments subsequently increased the reservation to 50 per cent,” Rahatkar said. “Today, I see several states where women’s representation has gone beyond the mandated 50 per cent reservation. Apart from the 50 per cent reserved seats, women are also getting elected from the open general category,” she said.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Rahatkar said women had proved their leadership abilities whenever they were given opportunities, citing their growing representation in Panchayati Raj institutions following the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. Women in India have demonstrated leadership in every section of society and in every field,” she said. Emphasising the need to provide equal opportunities and bridge the gender gap, the NCW chief said the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was an important step towards ensuring greater participation of women in decision-making.
