By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, July 17, 2026: Feminist activists and political leaders urged India’s Parliament to implement women’s reservation without delay, insisting it must rest on “the three pillars of social justice, inclusion and federalism” and be freed from political conditionalities.
At a well-attended online press conference July 16, the National Coalition for Women’s Reservation (NCWR) declared, “No Conditionalities! Implement Women’s Reservation at Current Parliament Strength.”
Speakers demanded that the Women’s Reservation Act, passed in 2023 after decades of struggle, be delinked from census and delimitation in the Monsoon Session to take place from July 21 to August 21.
“We demand immediate delinking of the Women Reservation Act, 2023 from census and delimitation,” participants said. T
hey warned that any attempt to expand Lok Sabha seats for the “political ambitions” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance would be resisted by secular and progressive forces.
Opposition to political misuse
Speakers condemned repeated government efforts to “weaponize women reservation” through delimitation and gerrymandering.
They recalled that one such attempt was blocked in April 2026, but warned that the ruling alliance is “on overdrive” to secure support for linking reservation to seat expansion.
Despite the 2023 constitutional amendment, women currently hold only 14–16 percent of seats in Parliament and 10 percent in state assemblies. Representation of women from marginalized backgrounds remains negligible.
Activists stressed that the Act excludes Other Backward Classes, Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes, minority, transgender, non-binary persons, and women with disabilities.
Voices from marginalized communities
Shashi Yadav, MLC from Bihar Assembly, said, “Leaving inclusion to political parties that are all practicing ‘parivarvaad’ (dynastic politics) betrays the claimed intention of the Government.”
Akkai Padmashali of the Trans Feminist Collective added, “In the Legislature of this world’s biggest democracy there is not a single person who represents the transgender community which constitutes 4-5% of the population.”
Anita Cheria of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement emphasized, “While 33% is non-negotiable, the recognition of marginalised identities is just as important.”
Hasina Khan of Bebaak Collective urged a socio-economic lens to understand minority women’s lived experiences, saying diversity in reservations is “crucial for dismantling privilege.”
Dalit activist Abirami Jotheeswaran noted, “Yes Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities are getting reservations within the Parliament but women from these communities continue to be excluded from real decision making.”
She added, “We need to be present to hold the State accountable.”
Elina Horo of the Adivasi Women’s Network highlighted the value of indigenous perspectives in policymaking, while Prof. Kusumam Joseph shared Kerala’s Equal Rights Movement’s work to ensure participation of marginalized identities.
Beena Pallical of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights reaffirmed the indispensability of intersectionality.
Call for constitutional clarity
Speakers demanded a transparent and participatory process for identifying reserved seats, modeled on Panchayati Raj institutions but adapted to ensure fairness.
They insisted that feminist politics “believes in decentralised federalism, and fights against patriarchal centralism.”
The press conference, moderated by Mona Mishra of the All-India Feminist Alliance, concluded with a five-point demand charter. Among the key requests:
Delink reservation from census: Activists urged Parliament to remove all references to census, delimitation and seat expansion from the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, saying women’s reservation must be implemented at current strength without delay.
Ensure federal rights: They called for a new clause to guarantee that 33% of seats are distributed according to each state’s existing share, protecting federal balance.
Include marginalized women: The charter demanded explicit reservation for OBCs, nomadic and de notified tribes, religious minorities, transgender and non binary persons, and women with disabilities.
Transparent seat identification: Speakers pressed for a participatory and impartial process to identify reserved seats, modeled on Panchayati Raj methods but reviewed by state commissions with women’s groups involved.
Campaign funding support: They urged Parliament to amend the Representation of People Act to provide election funding for vulnerable and marginalized candidates, ensuring a level playing field.