Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasized that Women-led development, anchored in the empowerment of women and the welfare of children, is the foundation of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Inaugurating the first-ever National Conference of the Committees on Empowerment of Women of Parliament and State/UT Legislatures in Tirupati on Sunday, Birla said that India will become an inclusive and developed nation only when our daughters become educated & self-reliant.
The conference was attended by representatives from more than 20 states. The two-day Conference is being held on the theme “Women-led Development for Viksit Bharat”, with a special focus on “Gender Responsive Budgeting” and “Empowering Women to Face Challenges of Emerging Technologies”.
Birla highlighted that Tirupati Conference sends a clear and powerful message that women’s empowerment and child welfare are not peripheral issues but the very foundation of national progress. With its focus on women’s leadership from Panchayats to Parliament, on inclusive laws and policies, and on economic independence for every woman, the Conference marks a decisive step in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, he said.
The Speaker stressed that women’s empowerment is not a one-time initiative but a continuous process requiring comprehensive policies that address the needs of women at every stage of life. He stressed the need to ensure women’s participation from Panchayats to Parliament, stating that increasing the presence of women in policy-making and law-making institutions will help address the challenges and barriers that women have historically faced.
As India enters the Amrit Kaal, Nari Shakti is emerging as an unstoppable force leading the nation towards strength and inclusivity, Birla stressed. The strength, leadership, and participation of women across every sphere of national life are not only matters of equity but also the bedrock of inclusive and sustainable growth, he added.
As India advances rapidly in education, science, governance, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation, the role and secure future of women will determine the pace and character of national progress, he further said.
Birla recalled the contribution of women freedom fighters whose sacrifice and dedication laid the foundation for a more equal and inclusive society. These courageous women broke barriers, challenged stereotypes, and emerged as leaders, strategists, and change-makers. In this context, Birla described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a historic constitutional reform giving institutional shape to this transformation.