RS Dy Chairman Harivansh lauds increased representation of women at grassroots level

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, praised the increased representation of women at the grassroots level, highlighting the significant progress made in empowering women in India’s local governance.

“Today, about 21 states have followed suit, with over 14.5 lakh women representatives at the grassroots level,” Harivansh said, recalling Bihar’s pioneering step in 2006 of providing 50% reservation for women in the third tier of governance.

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Speaking at the National Conference on the Committee on Empowerment of Women in Tirupati, Harivansh highlighted the passage of the landmark women’s reservation legislation in the New Parliament building in 2023. “This will lead to more women participating in national leadership in the times to come,” he said.

Harivansh praised the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying, “He created Andhra Pradesh as a technology hub in the late 1990s and 2000s, enabling a generation of young Indians, including many young girls, to find opportunities in high-skilled sectors.” He also highlighted Sri City near Tirupati, where more than half the workforce in industries are women working as supervisors, shop floor engineers, planners, and administrators.

Harivansh emphasized that gender-inclusive growth is aligned with the broader India growth story. “Improving social awareness alongside legal and policy changes is crucial,” he said, citing Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s vision on gender parity.

“The election of a woman from a tribal background as the President of India has shown how inspirational journeys can positively influence society,” Harivansh noted.

He cited the example of more than 56 crore bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), saying, “This has brought significant structural changes in empowering women. Such initiatives have been instrumental in promoting women’s empowerment and participation in the economy.”