At BRICS summit, Smriti Irani praises women's empowerment

New Delhi

Smriti Irani, former Union Minister and BJP leader, extended her greetings ahead of International Women’s Day, emphasizing the progress of women on the path of emancipation and acknowledging men who support women’s empowerment. Speaking at the BRICS annual women’s summit in New Delhi, she highlighted that women's contributions often go unrecognized in global economic assessments.

The global gender gap index fails to measure women’s true economic impact. Women drive economies, yet their efforts remain unnoticed, she said during a panel discussion.

Former Puducherry Governor Kiran Bedi, also present at the event, stressed the need for shared parental responsibility. She proposed making inspirational parenting a UN Sustainable Development Goal to encourage equal participation from mothers and fathers.

Bedi pointed out two categories of women in India—those with opportunities who should uplift others and those needing guidance to utilize available resources. She urged the youth to embrace the vision of 'Viksit Bharat,' emphasizing skill development for a prosperous future.

Other notable attendees included Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and actress Dia Mirza. The summit, organized by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featured various discussions on women’s roles in economic and social development.