33% Reservation to Open New Avenues for Women: Om Birla
Lok Sabha Speaker says women’s empowerment is essential for India to achieve developed-nation status by 2047
- Om Birla said 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will open new avenues for political leadership.
- He said women could account for more than 50% of public services in the coming years.
- Birla called for women to play a greater role in shaping policies, programmes and laws.
- Around 200 women legislators from 20 states and two Union Territories attended the workshop in Faridabad.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Sept: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said the 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies will open new avenues for women’s political leadership and strengthen their participation in democratic institutions.
Birla made the remarks while inaugurating a two-day All-India Capacity Building Workshop on “Gender-Responsive Governance”, organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Faridabad.
Highlighting the growing participation of women in public services and different professions, Birla said the day is not far when women will account for more than 50% of public services. He said a new generation of women leaders is emerging across political, administrative and social spheres.
The Lok Sabha Speaker said the focus should shift from merely providing support and opportunities to women towards enabling them to actively shape policies, programmes and laws.
He said women legislators in Parliament, State Assemblies, Panchayats and Municipalities can play a decisive role in raising women’s concerns and ensuring that legislation addresses ground-level realities.
Birla stressed that India cannot progress towards becoming a developed nation without the economic and social empowerment of women, who constitute nearly half of the country’s population. He called for greater opportunities for women in employment, economic independence and social empowerment, particularly for those facing deprivation and hardship.
He also urged women legislators to share successful initiatives and best practices adopted by different legislatures so that effective measures can be replicated across the country. He emphasised the importance of increasing awareness among women about laws and institutional mechanisms available to address their concerns.
Recalling women’s contribution to India’s freedom movement, nation-building and democratic institutions, Birla said the workshop provides an important platform for women legislators to exchange experiences and strengthen their leadership capabilities.
Emphasising the importance of dialogue in democracy, he said continuous discussion and consultation are essential to addressing the challenges and aspirations of citizens. He added that sensitivity can be an important strength of women’s leadership in understanding people’s concerns and developing effective solutions.
Birla said advancing women’s leadership must remain a collective resolve and expressed hope that sustained efforts would lead to greater representation of women in leadership positions across all spheres of national life.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, Haryana Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar, and around 200 women legislators from 20 states and two Union Territories attended the workshop.
