Tirupati, September 15, 2025 — Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla underlined that women’s empowerment is not just a matter of social justice but an economic necessity for India’s growth. He was speaking at the closing session of the first national conference of Parliamentary and Legislative Committees on Women Empowerment, held in Tirupati.
Birla pointed out that investing in women’s education, health, skills, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion has the potential to unlock a vast pool of human resources. According to him, this would build a stronger and more resilient development model for the country.
He called for the creation of gender budget cells in ministries and state departments, along with higher budget allocations for women’s health, education, skill training and entrepreneurial ventures. He also stressed the importance of monitoring these measures through gender-specific data to ensure accountability.
The two-day conference, attended by members of Parliament and state legislatures from over 20 states, adopted what has been termed the “Tirupati Resolution”. The resolution outlines a national roadmap to promote gender-responsive budgeting, expand women’s access to digital tools and strengthen their participation in emerging fields such as technology and innovation.
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer also addressed the gathering. He noted that while there has been legislative progress in recent years, political empowerment of women still requires more effort. He referred to the Women’s Reservation Act of 2023 as an important milestone towards achieving gender equality.
Birla added that true development is possible only when half of the country’s population is actively engaged in the process. He emphasised the need for adult literacy and digital literacy initiatives to ensure that women are not excluded from opportunities in the knowledge-driven economy.
