Three-day National Women Parliament session commenced today at Ibrahimpatnam here on the banks of the River Krishna near Vijayawada.
Addressing the delegates, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu said women power and their role was very important in strengthening the economy of the country and development was possible only with the full cooperation of women. Indian history shows the women had played major role along with men in the country, he added.
Venkaiah Naidu described Indian women-folk as unsung “heroines” without any recognition. Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s preaching that world cannot develop without active participation and cooperation of the women, he said it was late Nataratna-turned chief minister Nandamuri Tarakarama Rao who first raised voice for uplift of women and paved the way for them to enter politics during united Andhra Pradesh State.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said he would strive for all-round development of women. The party would continue to fight for reservation for women and it was the TDP that first demanded 33 per cent quota for them, he said. AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao said women have more leadership qualities and they should utilize the available opportunities for them in all fields to show their talent.
Besides Chandrababu Naidu, Venkaiah Naidu, Tibetan spiritual leader Buddhist monk Dalai Lama, some 12,000 women representative and experts in various fields are participating. (NSS)