Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said that thirty-three per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies will open new avenues for women’s political leadership. Mr Birla said that the coming years would witness a new generation of women leaders emerging across political, administrative, and social spheres.

The Lok Sabha Speaker stated this while inaugurating a two-day All-India Capacity Building Workshop on the theme -Gender-Responsive Governance, organized by the National Commission for Women at Faridabad, Haryana today. He mentioned that the focus must now shift from merely providing support and opportunities to women towards enabling them to actively shape policies, programmes, and laws. Mr Birla said, India cannot progress towards the goal of a developed nation without the economic and social empowerment of its women, who constitute nearly half of the country’s population. He called upon women legislators to deliberate on effective policies, schemes, and legislative measures that can strengthen women economically and socially, particularly those facing deprivation and hardship. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue in a vibrant democracy, Mr Birla said that the challenges and aspirations of the people are best addressed through continuous discussion and consultation. Referring to the constitutional commitment to equality and various legislative measures undertaken for women’s safety, empowerment, and self-reliance, he highlighted that institutions such as the NCW have an important role in identifying emerging challenges and facilitating solutions.