Empowerment of women is the empowerment of the nation. No household, society, State and country has ever moved forward without empowering its women,” said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while speaking on the BJD’s 24th foundation day here on Saturday.
He described ‘women empowerment’ as “my most favourite programme”.
“I am confident that the mothers and sisters who run their households so efficiently will run the Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads with equal competence,” he said quoting late Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
“Mothers are the axle of wheel in the society. Without their progress, the chariot can never move forward,” he observed.
Patnaik said, “Bijubabu had scripted history by giving 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj and urban bodies and Government jobs. The ruling BJD based on Bijubabu’s ideology has made 50% reservation for women in panchayat and urban bodies. Moreover, the party has been fighting to give 33% reservation to women in Assembly and Parliament as the party believes in action not in words,” adding, “the BJD is the only party in the country that had given 33% tickets to women in the 2019 general elections.”
Targeting the national parties, Patnaik said the slogan for women empowerment is only confined to their speeches during election rallies. After elections, these parties forget to meet their commitments.