National Women’s Parliament to be held in Andhra Pradesh in 2017

Among others, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, Speaker, Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly, Prof Vishwanath D Karad, Founder Executive President, MAEER’s MIT, Pune, Rahul V Karad, Vice President, MAEER’s MIT Group of Institutions, Pune, Manjiri Prabhu, Pune International Literary Festival and Chanchala Kodre, Former Mayor, Pune, were present at the press conference which announced the national women’s Parliament.

“Almost half of India’s youth are women and though they are the largest democracy in the world, women find themselves under-represented and far-removed from decision making levels. Women face many political, socio-economic, ideological and psychological obstacles in undertaking leadership roles. There is a dire need to remove these obstacles in political participation as well as in other spheres of life. The need of the hour is to make girls realise their potential, make them aware of the bright future that awaits them, guide them and nurture them. However, what is true of India is same for the world,” it was stated at the conference.

With this background, the National Women’s Parliament (NWP) has been launched that will be a common and non-political platform for women from diverse background like politics, social sector, education, sports, industry, media, cinema, arts and culture, judiciary and young aspiring girl students to stage their experiences, share knowledge and research in the area of women’s social economic and political empowerment.

The NWP initiative is being driven by personalities from advisory council like Juhi Chawla, Ranjana Kumari, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Sangita Reddy, Gitanjali Kirloskar, Radha Reddy, Ranjana Kumari, Meena Hewet, Jose Van Djick, Seema Rao, Jamuna Pai, Ritu Chhabria and Syeda Saiyidain Hameed.

Among the speakers invited to the event are President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Aung San Suu Kyi, Irina Bokova, Melinda Gates, Indra Nooyi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Shirin Chaudhary. The event will also recognise and award women achievers in two broad categories — Life Time Special Awards and Best Achievers Awards. The conclave will also recognise the best student speakers at the conclave.