Chief Minister Pema Khandu has lauded the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ as a historic and transformative reform, calling for a fundamental shift in the state’s political landscape. Addressing a special program titled “Celebrating Strength, Equality, and Leadership” on Wednesday, the chief minister emphasized that women’s participation in policymaking is not just a social goal but a primary indicator of a nation’s development.
Drawing comparisons with global standards, Khandu pointed out that while developed nations often boast 40 to 50 percent female representation in governance, India’s current metrics remain lower, with approximately 13.6 percent in the Lok Sabha. He highlighted a pressing need for improvement within Arunachal Pradesh, noting that only four women currently serve in the 60-member State Assembly. According to the chief minister, the 2023 legislation—which mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies—is the catalyst needed to bridge this gap.
The Chief Minister informed the audience that a special session of Parliament, scheduled from April 16 to 18, 2026, is dedicated to finalizing the rules and implementation modalities for this reservation. The government aims to have the system fully operational by the 2029 elections. However, Khandu urged women to look beyond the minimum quotas, encouraging them to break barriers and aspire to top leadership roles, including his hope to see a woman chief minister lead Arunachal Pradesh in the future.
Beyond politics, the chief minister detailed the state’s multi-sectoral approach to empowerment. He cited the success of the Dulari Kanya Scheme, which has provided higher education support to over 13,800 girls, and the robust Self-Help Group (SHG) movement that has engaged more than 1.5 lakh women since 2016. Furthermore, he highlighted health initiatives such as the HPV Vaccination Campaign and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana as essential pillars for socio-economic transformation.
The program also served as a platform to celebrate local icons, including author Mamang Dai, mountaineer Anshu Jamsenpa, and the state’s first woman IPS officer, Tenzin Yanki. CM Khandu concluded by calling for genuine electoral reforms, urging political parties to nominate capable women based on merit rather than proxy representation. He maintained that empowering women at the household and entrepreneurial levels is the most effective way to accelerate the journey toward “Viksit Arunachal 2047.”
