Hyderabad, June 27 (RAHNUMA): Women’s organisations and representatives of various political and social groups on Saturday demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, without linking it to the census and constituency delimitation processes.
The demand was raised at a meeting of the State Alliance for Women’s Reservation held at Raja Bahadur Gour Hall in Makhdoom Bhavan, Himayat Nagar, under the chairmanship of Magsaysay Award winner Shantha Sinha.
Representatives from several women’s organisations, civil society groups and political parties participated in the meeting and called for greater political representation for women. Speakers argued that delaying implementation of the law would deny women their rightful share in decision-making bodies.
Addressing the gathering, Shantha Sinha urged women to raise their voices against social challenges such as poverty, illiteracy and poor health. Professor Rama Melkote said women’s reservation would help advance social justice and enable meaningful participation of women in governance.
CPI leader Pashya Padma recalled the efforts of veteran leader Geeta Mukherjee in building consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill and alleged that the BJP government had delayed implementation by linking it to the census and delimitation exercise.
Participants resolved to intensify their campaign for the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act and called upon democratic forces to unite in securing political empowerment for women across the country.
Speakers included Professor Surepally Sujatha (representing independent women’s organizations and networks), Sunitha Deepti (NAPM), Ashalatha and Rukmini (Makam), Puli Kalpana (DBF), Sister Lizzy (Telangana Domestic Workers Union) and Professor Rama Melkote, among others. The Representatives from Left-wing and democratic parties – including Pashya Padma (CPI), Mallu Lakshmi (CPI-M), V. Sandhya (CPI-ML), Sharada (Congress-I), Tripurana Venkataratnam (former Women’s Commission Chairperson), Kalvakuntla Kavitha (TRS), Arunodaya Vimala, Lakshmi Ragulapalli (TJS), and Shantha (DSP)—along with others, participated.
