The three-day National Women’s Parliament concluded today near Vijayawada with a fervent call given by the Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan to all political parties to back the bill for providing reservation to women in the legislative bodies. But, she has restrained herself from suggesting women to take up united action to realise this long standing demand.

Making a cautious appeal and also restraining herself from asking women to makes a move on it, she only said that the need of the hour is respectfully giving reservations to women. Stressing the need for providing space for women in decision making, she said that women should be provided driving seat.

She made it clear that agitating for reservations is not fight against men, but it is only asserting the basic human, civil and political rights. The Speaker said that empowering women is necessary to make resurgent India and urged the Women’s Parliament to contribute their best for mitigating problems of women to help their empowerment and enable national development.

“The women empowerment really means respect for women for her human dignity, freedom to choose way of life and active participation in decision making process in participatory parliamentary democracy,” she added.

Mahajan told the conclave that the Parliament is making consistent efforts for policy formulation and programme implementation towards empowerment of the women. Noting that women are change vehicles in global scenario, she said decision-making power was necessary for women.

She mooted the idea of Parliamentary Group under the chairmanship of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for discussing ways and means for empowerment of women.

On this occasion, Chandrababu Naidu announced that his government to start a novel programme titled ‘Thalliki vandanam’ (Salutations to mother) soon. He expressed the confidence that under the leadership of Mahajan, the women’s reservation bill will be passed in Parliament.