Kanpur: Although the Women’s Reservation Bill did not pass in the Parliament, women from diverse sections of society gathered at the Naveen auditorium at the Sarsaiya Ghat in the city to express their support for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, hailing it as a historic reform aimed at enhancing women’s representation in governance.Addressing a joint press conference, speakers described the legislation as a transformative step that would strengthen democratic values by ensuring greater participation of women, who constitute nearly half of the country’s population.Advocate and social activist Disha Arora termed the Bill a significant move to address the historical underrepresentation of women in legislative bodies. She noted that while women have always had the capability, their opportunities and participation were limited. With the provision of 33% reservation, women’s voices would now find stronger expression in Parliament and State Assemblies, enabling them to play a more active role in policymaking. She also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative.Social worker Subhashini Shivhare said the Bill reflects the growing self-confidence and evolving role of women in society. “Earlier, women spoke mainly about voting rights, but now they are stepping forward to take up leadership roles,” she said, and added that increased participation of women in decision-making would bring issues concerning them to the forefront, facilitating better resolution.Shivhare also acknowledged ongoing challenges such as the “Pradhan Pati” phenomenon in rural areas but noted that the trend is gradually changing, with women increasingly asserting independent leadership.Preeti Singh, associate professor at S.N. Sen Degree College, emphasised that the Bill would further empower women to articulate their views effectively. She observed that awareness among female students regarding such issues is also on the rise, with their perspectives gaining importance.Manpreet Kaur, a social activist working for people with disabilities, said the legislation would ensure that women are no longer seen merely as a demographic figure but as active and empowered participants in governance. She pointed out that women have already demonstrated their leadership capabilities at the panchayat level, and this participation would now extend to larger platforms.The speakers said that the constitutional provision would significantly enhance women’s decision-making power and pave the way for more inclusive governance.
