50% Participation of Women Essential for India’s Development: CM Devendra Fadnavis Nari Shakti Vandan Women’s Convention

Mumbai, April 2026 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that India cannot become a developed nation unless women have 50 per cent participation in the country’s development. He emphasised that while the necessary constitutional amendment for women’s political representation had been made earlier, it was the strong political will of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that ensured progress on the issue.

Fadnavis was speaking at the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Women’s Convention’ organised by Nari Shakti Vichar Manch. The event was attended by several prominent personalities, including Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, MLAs Manisha Chaudhary, Chitra Wagh and Amit Satam, SNDT University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ujjwala Chakradev, actress Raveena Tandon, Prajakta Mali, singer Vaishali Samant, fashion designer Archana Snehalka Swami, Global Teacher Award winner Rubal Nagi, and a large number of women participants.

The Chief Minister stated that the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill would bring historic changes in the political, social, and economic landscape for women. He expressed confidence that a significant number of women representatives would be elected to Parliament and state legislatures, accelerating women’s leadership and development. He urged everyone to extend united support to the legislation.

Currently, there are 73 women MPs in the Lok Sabha, but Fadnavis said this number could rise to around 273 by 2029. He noted that without timely action, the Bill could have been delayed until 2029 or even 2034–2039.

Recalling earlier attempts, he said the Women’s Reservation Bill had failed to pass despite being introduced by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee due to lack of majority, and even subsequent governments could not ensure its passage.

Addressing concerns around census and delimitation, Fadnavis said that although the 2021 Census was delayed due to the pandemic, the Bill is being implemented based on the 2011 Census, and delimitation will soon follow. He reiterated that Prime Minister Modi’s determination has been crucial in advancing the legislation.

Highlighting initiatives like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” he said the government has taken several steps to empower women—from improving gender ratios to expanding educational opportunities. Schemes like “Lakhpati Didi” are also part of this broader effort.

Fadnavis further noted that Maharashtra has witnessed unprecedented progress in women’s leadership. For the first time, women have held top positions such as Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai. He added that women’s representation in local self-governance bodies has reached 55 per cent.

He pointed out that while earlier trends like ‘proxy leadership’ existed, women are now independently contesting and performing effectively. Citing an example from Nagpur, he said female students won six out of eight gold medals at AIIMS, demonstrating excellence across sectors.

From defence to space research, women have proven their capabilities, he said, expressing confidence that with opportunities, women can excel in any field.

The event also featured cultural performances showcasing the lives of iconic figures like Rajmata Jijau, Rani Lakshmibai, Savitribai Phule, and Dr. Anandibai Joshi. Women achievers from various fields were honoured by the Chief Minister, and participants expressed support for the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill through a signature campaign.