The National Women's Parliament (NWP), a three-day event being organised by Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly with the theme “Empowering women — strengthening democracy”, began at the Pavitra Sangamam (confluence of Godvari and Krishna rivers), near here, on Friday.
Over 10,000 women delegates, including women MPs, MLAs and those who have excelled in different walks of life from across the country and abroad, are attending the conclave.
The Women Reservation Bill occupied centre stage with Union Minister Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N. Chandrtababu Naidu batting for reservation of one-third seats in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has this in mind and the day is not is far when Parliament will pass the bill providing women reservation through consensus. Once we (NDA) get majority in the Rajya Sabha, we will get the Bill passed,” Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said.
Recalling that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was a pioneer in extending reservation to women in the political arena, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu stressed on the need for passing the Women Reservation Bill. “This meeting should give a new direction till we achieve 33% reservations to women and our fight should continue until we achieve the goal,” he said. The TDP has to its credit many firsts too. An exclusive university for women, Padmavathi Mahila University, reservation for women in local bodies, promotion of self-help groups were a few to mention, he said.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but it lapsed following the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
Emphasising on the role of women in the well -being of society and mankind, Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama said women had a special role in society.
“My first teacher of my practice of love and compassion is my mother. So, all of us have received maximum affection from mother.”
Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, Sri Lankan Professor and wife of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Maithree Wickramsinghe, Gandhian Ela Bhatt, actress Manisha Koirala, MIT Group of Institutions Vice President Rahul Karad and others spoke.
There will be seven plenary sessions at the event, with discussions on subjects such as socio-political challenges in women empowerment, women’s status and decision-making, building own identity and vision for the future.
