Tirupati
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday underlined that India can achieve its vision of becoming an inclusive and developed nation only when women are educated and self-reliant. Inaugurating the first-ever National Conference of the Committees on Empowerment of Women of Parliament and State/UT Legislatures in Tirupati, he said that women-led development, rooted in empowerment and child welfare, is the cornerstone of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The two-day conference, themed ‘Women-led Development for Viksit Bharat’, has drawn representatives from more than 20 states. Discussions are focused on gender-responsive budgeting, empowering women to face challenges of emerging technologies, and strengthening leadership at all levels of governance.
Calling the event a landmark in India’s democratic journey, Birla noted that such conferences create a platform for sharing ideas and experiences, paving the way for inclusive policy-making. He stressed that women’s empowerment should not be treated as a peripheral issue but as the very foundation of national progress. The Speaker highlighted that the Tirupati Conference sent a strong message on the importance of women’s participation from Panchayats to Parliament. He argued that greater representation in law-making and policy-making bodies would help dismantle barriers that women have historically faced.
Birla also emphasized that empowerment is a continuous process requiring comprehensive policies to address women’s needs at every stage of life. By focusing on equality, economic independence, and leadership, he said, the country can ensure that women become principal architects of India’s development journey.
