Women will shape vision of Viksit Bharat: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

The impact of the women’s reservation law, achieving 100% literacy among girl students, enforcing the “no work, no pay” principle, and ensuring at least 60 sittings of Legislative Assemblies annually were among the key discussion points at the first national conference on parliamentary and legislative committees on the empowerment of women.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday inaugurated the conference in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was scheduled to attend but could not fly into Tirupati due to bad weather en route.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Birla said the women’s reservation law would create a new generation of leaders who would shape policies and determine the future of India.

The law, he said, goes beyond symbolism and grants women their rightful place in governance. He added that it was a matter of pride that the very first Bill passed in the new Parliament building was the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which ensures 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislatures, with special provisions for women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

“It will create a new generation of women leaders who will shape policies, drive progress, and determine the future direction of India,” Mr. Birla said.

Stressing the importance of literacy for girls, he said India can progress only when its daughters are educated and self-reliant.

“Today women are not just participants, but leaders, innovators, nurturers, and entrepreneurs. From space missions to village panchayats, from the kitchen to the boardroom, women are advancing with greater independence, strength, and determination,” the Speaker added.

The two-day conference, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, is being attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker C. Ayyannapatrudu, BJP leader and chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women D. Purandeshwari, as well as representatives from 20 States.

Mr. Birla said parliamentary committees always function above party politics and urged participants to share best practices.

Amid disruptions across State legislatures, Andhra Pradesh Speaker Ayyannapatrudu suggested enforcing the principle of “no work, no pay” for legislators. He also urged that State legislatures ensure at least 60 sittings a year so that people’s voices are adequately heard.

“If we have a no work no pay policy for subordinate employees, why should MLAs get paid if they are absent?” he asked.

Later, he clarified that his remark referred to the prolonged absence of 11 Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party MLAs, including former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, from Assembly proceedings over the past year.

(With inputs from Rangarajan A.D.)