‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ a historic step towards women’s empowerment: Shruti Choudhry

Chandigarh: Speaking during the special session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’, Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry said that the announcement of a special session of Parliament to introduce the Bill had created a wave of enthusiasm and hope across the country, particularly among women, who felt that their long-pending demand was finally nearing fulfillment.

She said that if passed, the Bill would have been one of the most significant legislative decisions of our time. Granting 33 percent reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies would not only transform the political landscape but also bring far-reaching changes across all sections of society.

The Minister said that the framers of the Constitution had laid a progressive foundation by ensuring equal voting rights to men and women from the very beginning. While women in many countries had to struggle for this right, India guaranteed it at the outset.

Smt. Choudhry said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the Central Government, has taken several transformative steps towards women’s empowerment. Initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, which led to the construction of crores of toilets, the Ujjwala Yojana providing LPG connections, and the Har Ghar Jal scheme have significantly improved the safety and ease of life for women.

She further said that due to the positive impact of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, Haryana’s sex ratio has improved from 871 in 2015 to 923 today, with several districts performing even better.

Emphasising economic empowerment, she said that a significant number of houses under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’ have been registered in the names of women. The Haryana Government, she added, is also empowering women through measures such as 33 per cent reservation in ration depots, the ‘Mukhyamantri Doodh Uphar Yojana’, and the ‘Lado Lakshmi Yojana’.Government is committed to strengthening women at every stage of life, with these schemes being closely monitored by the Chief Minister, she added.

Targeting the Opposition, Smt. Choudhry said that by opposing this important Bill, they have hurt the sentiments of women across the country. Opposing such a measure on electoral grounds is unfortunate. Whereas such decisions of this nature should be guided by the nation’s future.

She added that the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ was not merely a political issue but an opportunity to send a strong message to the world that India is committed to advancing women’s leadership.

She said that women in the country are fully aware of the issue and will respond appropriately in the future. Condemning all parties that obstructed the passage of the Bill, she said that future generations will not forgive them.