Nari Shakti Vandan Act historical reform: Pema Khandu
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday attended a special programme celebrating women’s empowerment and raising awareness about the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, held under the theme “Celebrating Strength, Equality and Leadership.” Addressing a gathering of women leaders, achievers, students, and dignitaries, he described the legislation as a transformative step for India’s political and governance landscape.
Highlighting the importance of the Act, Khandu said the law, passed in 2023 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provides 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. He noted that women’s reservation had been a long-pending demand since 1996, with several attempts made before it was finally passed with broad political consensus.
The Chief Minister informed that a special session of Parliament from April 16 to 18 will focus on finalizing rules and implementation modalities, with the aim of rolling out the reservation by the 2029 general elections.
Emphasizing the role of women in policymaking, Khandu pointed out that developed nations typically have 40–50 percent representation of women in governance. In comparison, India currently has around 13.6 percent women representation in the Lok Sabha and about 9 percent in State Assemblies. Arunachal Pradesh presently has only four women MLAs, underlining the need for greater participation.
He urged women to go beyond the 33 percent reservation and actively take up leadership roles in politics. The Chief Minister also highlighted several government initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, including the Dulari Kanya Scheme, HPV Vaccination Campaign, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and PM Poshan Scheme, benefiting tens of thousands of women and girls across the state.
Khandu further emphasized the success of the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement, noting that since 2016, over 1.5 lakh women have become actively involved in SHGs in Arunachal Pradesh. He said the government is now focusing on strengthening cooperative movements to expand women-led enterprises.
Encouraging women entrepreneurship, he highlighted opportunities under MSME initiatives and urged women to register for financial support, loans, and skill training. He stressed that grassroots development begins at the household level, where women play a central role in driving socio-economic transformation.
The Chief Minister also lauded several prominent women achievers from the state, including noted author Mamang Dai, Indian Army officer Ponung Doming, entrepreneur Tage Rita Takhe, IPS officer Tenzin Yanki, mountaineer and Padma Shri awardee Anshu Jamsenpa, traditional medicine practitioner Yanu Jamoh Lego, and academic Jamuna Bini.
He also praised women athletes for improving Arunachal Pradesh’s performance in national sports competitions, noting that the state is now among the top performers.
Calling for electoral reforms, Khandu urged political parties to promote capable women candidates instead of proxy representation. He emphasized the importance of giving women opportunities to lead independently and expressed hope that Arunachal Pradesh will one day have a woman Chief Minister.
Describing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a “game-changer,” he called on women to break barriers, engage in governance, and take on leadership roles in shaping the future.
Khandu also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, for passing the legislation, stating that it will significantly strengthen women empowerment and accelerate India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Arunachal 2047.
The programme was attended by several prominent personalities, including Yalem Taga Borang, Ratan Anya, Miss Arunachal 2025 Taba Jumshi, social worker Jaya Tasung Moyong, along with women leaders, former legislators, councillors, and students.
