metro india news  I amaravati

The stage was set, all the right things were said and parliamentary leaders waxed eloquent about women-led development and child welfare at the first national conference of Parliamentary and State Legislatures’ Committees on Women Empowerment that began in Tirupati on Sunday but what was missing were women on the dais, barring Parliamentary Committee on Women Empowerment Chairperson D. Purandeswari.

The leaders reiterated that women and child-welfare would form the bedrock of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Delivering the keynote address, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla underlined that India cannot achieve comprehensive development unless daughters become educated and self-reliant. “Our daughters’ education and independence are vital for making India a fully developed nation,” he said.

He recalled the role of 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly in shaping the Constitution on the principles of equality, and hailed the contribution of women leaders from freedom fighters like Rani Lakshmibai and Sarojini Naidu to today’s women at the helm of state and national institutions.

“Women’s empowerment is not an event but a continuous process. From Panchayats to Parliament, women’s representation must be strengthened. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is not just about representation, it is a historic step to ensure women have their rightful place in democracy,” Birla said.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh lauded Andhra Pradesh’s contributions to national progress, recalling N.T. Rama Rao’s legacy and praising Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s emphasis on technology and skilling.

He stressed that while the Constitution laid a strong foundation for women’s rights, “laws alone are not enough, social awareness must also grow.” He pointed to Bihar’s implementation of 50% reservation for women in local bodies and credited central schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana and Namo Drone Didi for boosting women’s economic self-reliance.

Parliamentary Women Empowerment Committee Chairperson D. Purandeswari emphasized that equality, inclusivity, and empowerment are central to achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, she noted that women-led development is a national priority. Purandeswari also reminded that the Women’s Empowerment Committee, established in 1997, has produced 87 reports leading to significant policy recommendations, while urging stronger implementation of laws like the Domestic Violence Act and anti-sexual harassment legislation.

Om Birla described Tirupati as a fitting venue, calling it “a land of devotion, sacrifice, and women’s contribution,” while Harivansh paid tribute to Andhra Pradesh’s freedom fighters, writers, and spiritual leaders. The event also featured a photo exhibition and cultural acknowledgments of women’s historic roles in nation-building.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu, Deputy Speaker Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, state ministers, and representatives from more than 20 states were present.

The two-day conference, held under the theme “Women-Led Development for Viksit Bharat”, will deliberate on gender-responsive budgeting, digital literacy, leadership, and social equity.