Women's quota will expand political leadership, says Lok Sabha Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Monday that the 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will open fresh avenues for their political leadership. He stressed that the role of women must evolve beyond receiving support to actively shaping policies and laws.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day national workshop on 'Gender-Responsive Governance' organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Faridabad, Birla said the focus should shift from merely providing women with support and opportunities to enabling them to determine programmes and legislation that address their concerns.

He expressed confidence that the day is not far when women will constitute more than half of public services. Women legislators in Parliament, state assemblies, panchayats, and municipalities, he noted, can play a decisive role in ensuring that laws reflect ground-level realities.

Birla also underlined the role of institutions like the NCW in identifying emerging challenges and facilitating solutions. He said India cannot achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation without the economic and social empowerment of women, who form nearly half the population.

He urged women legislators to share successful initiatives and strengthen awareness among women, particularly those in vulnerable sections, about the laws and institutional mechanisms available to address their concerns.