33% reservation will unlock new avenues for women: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday described the 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies as a historic necessity, asserting that the coming years will witness a new generation of female leaders across political, administrative, and social spheres. He stated that the day is not far when women will account for more than 50 per cent of public services.

Inaugurating a two-day All-India Capacity Building Workshop on “Gender-Responsive Governance” organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Faridabad, Birla emphasised that the focus must now shift from merely providing support and opportunities to enabling women to actively shape policies, programmes, and laws.

Birla stressed that women legislators across the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, Panchayats, and Municipalities can play a decisive role in ensuring legislation responds to ground-level realities. Highlighting the constitutional commitment to equality and legislative measures for women’s safety, self-reliance, and empowerment, he added that institutions like the NCW play a vital role in identifying emerging challenges and facilitating solutions.

Underlining economic and social empowerment as non-negotiable for national progress, the Speaker noted that India cannot achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation without empowering women, who constitute nearly half the population. He urged women legislators to deliberate on effective policies and schemes to strengthen women economically, particularly those facing deprivation, while calling for cross-legislative sharing of best practices and enhanced legal awareness in vulnerable areas.

Birla observed that sensitivity is a core strength of women’s leadership, fostering deeper understanding and a responsive work culture to address social challenges.

The event was attended by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, Haryana Minister of State (IC) for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar, and around 200 women legislators representing 20 States and 2 Union Territories.