New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the national-level ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan’, women participants at the venue voiced their appreciation for the Centre’s efforts in bringing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (passed in Parliament in September 2023), saying it would empower women and help them become self-reliant.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the gathering at Vigyan Bhawan at 11 a.m. on Monday.

The Sammellan is expected to see participation from prominent personalities and women achievers across diverse sectors, including government, academia, science, sports, entrepreneurship, media, social work and culture.

The event aims to bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders to deliberate on the role of women in India’s development journey.

The programme is being organised as part of the Union government’s broader push towards women-led development and seeks to underline the importance of greater participation of women in decision-making processes.

It will also highlight the growing presence of women in leadership roles across sectors, from grassroots governance institutions such as Panchayats to the national Parliament.

The event comes in the backdrop of the landmark passage of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ in September 2023, which marked a significant step towards enhancing women’s representation in legislative bodies.

The legislation provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, a move widely seen as transformative for India’s political landscape.

An attendee, Yashoda Rawat, told IANS that such legislation had long been required but had not received adequate attention earlier. “Now that the BJP is introducing it, it should not be politicised,” she said, adding, “We have come to today’s conference to listen to the Prime Minister; we expect to gain a great deal of information.”

Speaking to IANS, Dr Tarani Taneja said the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ would prove beneficial for the country and contribute to its overall progress. She highlighted that when a woman becomes self-reliant, it leads to the advancement of her family, society and the nation at large.

“The country has needed this bill for a long time, but it is the BJP that is finally bringing it forward,” she said, adding that women deserve equal participation in national affairs.

Another attendee, Rupali, termed the development a major moment for women’s empowerment. “Now, women can step out of their homes and participate in decision-making in the public sphere; this is going to yield significant benefits,” she said, adding that there was a sense of enthusiasm and optimism among women present at the event.

Dr Vimal Preet Mohan described the day as significant for women, saying, “Today is a special day for women. We have gathered here to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

She noted that the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ had been introduced during the BJP’s tenure and expressed appreciation for the initiative. “We express our gratitude for this initiative, as it stands to benefit both women and the nation immensely,” she said.

“Its implementation will bring advantages to women across every field. We are extremely happy about this,” she added.

Yogita, another participant, expressed gratitude to the government and Prime Minister Modi, stating, “It is thanks to him that this bill is being passed today.”

She added that the implementation of the legislation would significantly benefit women and enhance their participation across sectors, enabling them to become self-reliant. “Every political leader should come together to support this bill,” she urged.

–IANS

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