Delhi Chief Minister advocates reserved seats for women in legislature, attends DU’s signature drive

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday participated in a signing event at Delhi University’s (DU) College of Arts in support of the Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), stressing on the need for greater participation of women in governance and decision-making.Speaking about the bill, Gupta said, “I have often wondered why we all need this reservation. Every person, every woman, every daughter may not have been able to reach this far alone through normal courses. But today, women should play a greater role in running this country, administration and policy making.” Gupta said meaningful change can only be achieved when women are in decision-making positions that enable them to address issues that directly impact society, their families and their own lives.She highlighted Delhi government’s initiatives such as Lakhpati Bitiya and Anmol schemes and described them as the fruits of sensitive and inclusive policy formulation aimed at empowering women and strengthening social security.The event showcases women’s leadership and equal representation, conveying messages such as “It’s time for women to lead” and “Empower women to prosper the country.”“I believe that when women come forward and become MLAs, ministers and chief ministers, it is possible to bring about institutional change,” asserted Gupta.Terming the legislation a historic step and expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for passing it, the chief minister said the law advances the cause from ‘Beti Bachao’ (protection of women) to ‘Beti Badhao’ (empowerment of women).“Through this platform, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister for the tremendous effort he has put in to introduce this legislation. He has worked hard to bring every political party to a platform that recognizes the scale of the revolution this will create in our country,” she asserted.Gupta noted that demands for greater female political representation date back decades. The law’s roots date back to 1931, she said, and the law enacted in 2023 reflected a long and sustained struggle, adding that ensuring its effective implementation was now a collective responsibility.She called on young people to actively support this initiative and transform it into a mass movement. The real power of democracy lies in equal participation in decision-making.Gupta expressed confidence in the impact of the law, saying it will redefine political representation in the country and help build a stronger, more balanced and progressive democracy.After the event, Gupta informally interacted with students and female faculty at a tea stall on campus to hear their perspectives, experiences and advice. Such open and direct communication between public representatives and citizens makes policymaking more effective and people-centred, she said.The chief minister wrote onShe asserted that this move towards getting one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies will bring new strength to the daughters of the country.