New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday urged the youth to ensure that every step they take should positively contribute to the empowerment of women in the society.

Addressing the students of Daulat Ram College of University of Delhi, Birl said that the youth power is facing important challenges with their innovation and creativity. “It is only through education that we can bring about a real change for the social emancipation of women. The youth to ensure that every step they take should positively contribute to the empowerment of women in the society. They focus on improving the lives of women, especially those living in rural areas.”

Speaking on the occasion, Birla opined that respect for women power is a part of Indian tradition and culture. Remembering social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitri Bai Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said that their contribution in women empowerment will always be remembered, Lok Sabha Secretariat communiqué said.
Referring to the increasing participation of women in the development of the country since Independence, Birla said that today women are playing a leading role in every field. Lakhs of women through Self Help Groups (SHGs) are making a big difference in the society by starting their own small industries, it said.

Birla expressed happiness that whenever officers of any All India Service come to Parliament for educational tours, he finds that the women probationers are more than that of men, it added.

Birla noted that over the period of time, the political participation of women has increased. When India became independent, the number of women in the Constituent Assembly was 15, whereas, today 115 women are representing the country in the Parliament of India. And, today, more than 14 lakh women are leading and bringing social and economic changes in the society in all the democratic institutions in rural and urban areas, it added.

UNI CM GNK