Press Release from the office of MLA Gnathang-Machong cum Advisor to the Women, Child, Senior Citizen, and Divyangjan Welfare Department.
First National Conference of Parliamentary and Legislative Committees on Empowerment of Women Inaugurated at Tirupati
Tirupati, September 16: MLA of Gnathang-Machong and Advisor to the Women, Child, Senior Citizen, and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Ms Pamin Lepcha, attended the first National Conference of Parliamentary and Legislative Committees on Empowerment of Women held at the Rahul Convention Centre, Tirupati. The two-day conference began on 14th September 2025 and was inaugurated by Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The conference was convened to provide a common platform for Committees on Empowerment of Women from Parliament and State/UT Legislatures to exchange views, share experiences, and deliberate on the role of these committees in strengthening women’s participation in governance. It also aimed at identifying challenges, exploring mechanisms for better coordination between parliamentary and legislative institutions, and studying the impact of existing policies and programmes related to women.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Shri Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu, Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Shri Payyavula Keshav, Minister of Legislative Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Shri K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Dr. D. Purandeswari, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women; Smt. Gowru Charitha Reddy, Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Women, Children, Disabled and the Old Aged, Andhra Pradesh Legislature; along with Chairpersons and Members of Committees on Empowerment of Women from both Houses of Parliament and from various States and Union Territories.
During the inaugural session, Shri Om Birla highlighted the role of women in India’s freedom struggle, social reform movements, and democratic institutions. He recalled the contributions made by women members of the Constituent Assembly in ensuring that equality and justice were enshrined in the Constitution. He stated that the participation of women in governance continues to provide perspectives that strengthen legislative functioning.
Sessions were held on a range of subjects concerning women, including their representation in political and administrative structures, measures for social and economic inclusion, challenges related to health, education, and employment, and the mechanisms available for addressing gender-related issues through legislative committees. The sessions also discussed the need for coordination between State Legislatures and Parliament to ensure uniformity in approach and effective implementation of policies.
The conference served as a forum for participants to share examples of initiatives undertaken in their respective States and at the national level. It also enabled members of different committees to exchange ideas on strengthening institutional frameworks and to explore avenues for ensuring accountability in the implementation of schemes relating to women.
The valedictory session, held on 15th September 2025, was attended by Shri Abdul Nazeer, Governor of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha; Shri Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu, Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Shri K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Dr. D. Purandeswari, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women; and Smt. Gowru Charitha Reddy, Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Women, Children, Disabled and the Old Aged, Andhra Pradesh Legislature. MLAs, officials, and delegates from across the country were also present.
The valedictory session included remarks from dignitaries on the importance of continued dialogue between parliamentary and legislative committees, the monitoring of government initiatives for women, and the role of legislatures in ensuring gender-sensitive governance.
The conference concluded with expressions of thanks to the Andhra Pradesh Legislature for hosting the event and to the participating members and officials for contributing to the deliberations.
