NFIW Launches Second Phase of Campaign to Amend NSVA

The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) launched the second phase of its campaign, calling for amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (NSVA). The campaign aims to delink the law's implementation from the census and delimitation processes, and demand 50% women's representation in Parliament and state assemblies.

The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) on Thursday initiated the second phase of its campaign to demand amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (NSVA), seeking to remove links between its implementation and the census and delimitation processes.

Speaking at the National Convention held at Delhi's Constitution Club, NFIW President Aruna Roy criticized the conditional clauses attached to the law, accusing the government of perpetuating a patriarchal and 'manuwadi' mindset. Roy argued that the NSVA, rather than empowering women, imposes unnecessary barriers to their participation in decision-making spaces.

Passed in September 2023, the NSVA reserves 33 percent of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures but will only take effect after a national census and delimitation exercise, with no fixed timeline for these processes. This aspect has been a significant point of contention for NFIW and other women's rights organizations.

The organization claims that its 2021 writ petition in the Supreme Court pressured the Modi government into passing the NSVA after years of delay. Despite this, NFIW leaders argue that the enacted version of the law is deeply flawed.

The NFIW's draft resolution presented at the convention highlighted that India ranks 143rd out of 185 countries in women's representation in the lower house of Parliament. With only 13.63 percent women in the 18th Lok Sabha, the NFIW believes the Act fails to address the systemic exclusion of women from political power.

Calling for immediate amendments, the NFIW demands that women be allocated 50% of seats in both Parliament and state assemblies. The campaign also highlights broader issues faced by Indian women, such as rising rates of violence and insufficient budget allocations for women's education and employment.

As the campaign's second phase begins, NFIW hopes to unite political parties and civil society organizations in its call for a more inclusive and equitable political landscape, reaffirming their commitment to removing barriers and ensuring women's voices are heard in true democracy.

(With inputs from agencies.)