The passage of the women’s reservation bill has ignited hope among stakeholders about attaining gender equality in India’s political landscape, especially at the policy-making level, even as some raised concerns over its effectiveness given the uncertainty in the deadline for its implementation.

The bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women received the parliamentary nod on Thursday as the Rajya Sabha unanimously voted in its favour. It will now require the approval of a majority of state assemblies.

The 128th Constitution amendment bill, referred to as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the census which the government has said will be commissioned next year.

Prominent lawyer Shilpi Jain said it could have been implemented immediately.

”Just give tickets to 33 per cent women! At least fix a time limit for its implementation. Otherwise, it’s an eyewash. It’s like being given a prize which can’t be taken for the next few years! ”A law that doesn’t have a time limit about its actual implementation doesn’t come into effect till it’s implemented! It’s half a trophy being given now. The other half, no one knows if/when it will be given!” she said.

Shabnam Hashmi, of the Left-leaning NGO Anhad, said that first there will be a census and after that, there will be delimitation. So, there is no guarantee of this happening even by 2029, she said.