A coalition of women’s groups, activists, academics, professionals and women political aspirants has urged the Goa government to push for the immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women in the state Legislative Assembly.

Addressing the media at Azad Maidan in Panaji, members of the Coalition for Women’s Reservation with Inclusion and Federalism said the government should bring a resolution during the upcoming Assembly session, urging the Centre to amend the Constitution and de-link women’s reservation from seat expansion, census and delimitation.

The coalition said the reservation should be implemented within Goa’s existing 40-member Assembly, allowing women to benefit without waiting for an increase in the number of seats or the completion of the delimitation process.

Activist Auda Viegas highlighted the structural challenges faced by women entering electoral politics, including lack of financial resources and personal attacks during election campaigns. She called for greater financial support and a level playing field for women candidates.

Angela D’Souza, representing marginalised OBC and fishing communities, stressed the need for greater representation of women whose livelihoods are vulnerable to development and environmental changes. The coalition has demanded a 33% sub-reservation within the OBC quota for OBC fisherwomen, particularly Kharvi and boat-owning fishing women.

The coalition has also sought representation for single women, women with disabilities, nomadic communities and queer women, among other vulnerable groups.

Dr Radhika Desai said women must have a meaningful presence in institutions where policies and decisions are made. She also expressed concern that future delimitation based solely on population could disadvantage smaller states such as Goa.

Advocate Caroline Colaco said the coalition had met several Goa MLAs and circulated a draft resolution seeking a Constitutional Amendment to ensure that women’s reservation is not delayed by the census, delimitation or expansion of Assembly seats.

The coalition has proposed a state-level mechanism involving ruling and opposition representatives, election officials and women’s organisations to identify constituencies for reservation. It has also demanded state-backed election funding for women candidates from marginalised communities.

Advocate Albertina Almeida said legislators across political parties had broadly acknowledged the need for women’s reservation, but procedural hurdles remain. The coalition was informed that the upcoming short Assembly session does not have a scheduled Private Members’ Day, which could make it difficult to introduce the resolution through that route.

Despite the challenges, the coalition said it would continue pressing the government to find a legislative mechanism to take up the issue during the session.

The group also rejected the idea that Goa’s Assembly must first be expanded from 40 to 60 seats before women’s reservation can be implemented, maintaining that the 33% quota can be introduced within the existing Assembly structure.