Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Advocates for Enhanced Women's Participation in Policy-Making
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has called for a significant increase in women's involvement in policy-making and law-making processes across India. Speaking at the valedictory function of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Zone VII Conference in Panaji, Goa, on Friday, Birla highlighted the critical need to boost female representation in legislative bodies.
Building Consensus for Women's Reservation
Birla stated that concerted efforts are underway to build consensus and agreement among all political parties to ensure the implementation of 33% reservation for women in state legislatures and the Lok Sabha. "We want women's participation to increase in policy making. From panchayats to Delhi, whether it is state legislatures or Lok Sabha, the role of women has to increase," he emphasized.
He further explained that women bring sensitivity and compassion to governance, which naturally leads to better consideration of women's rights and benefits when their participation in policy-making grows. "Women work with sensitivity and compassion and, thus obviously, when their participation in policy-making increases, then automatically, women's rights and benefits will also be taken into consideration," Birla added.
Progress on the Women's Reservation Bill
In 2023, Parliament passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam or Women's Reservation Bill. This landmark legislation seeks to reserve one-third of the total number of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi assembly. The bill received approval from both Houses of Parliament.
Birla outlined the government's vision, stating, "We are trying to give a new vision for the country. We got it passed after building consensus. We will continue to build consensus among all the parties in the future so that we can implement it." He assured that more discussions and deliberations will be held to foster agreement among all political parties on this crucial issue.
Current Status and Future Goals
At the panchayat level, women already enjoy 33% reservation of seats, with some states reserving half the seats for women. Birla stressed the importance of extending this representation to higher legislative bodies. "In the coming times, we need to increase the participation and role of women in formulating policies and laws," he asserted.
Birla also highlighted the broader democratic imperative, noting that enhancing public participation is vital to deepening India's democratic process. His remarks underscore a growing recognition of the need for gender-balanced governance to address diverse societal needs effectively.
The conference in Goa served as a platform to reinforce the commitment to gender equality in political representation, aligning with global trends and domestic aspirations for inclusive development.
