Women’s Empowerment as a National Imperative
Shri Birla stressed that investing in women’s health, education, skills, and entrepreneurship unlocks vast human capital critical to building a resilient socio-economic model. “Women’s empowerment must be seen as the foundation of national development, not just welfare,” he remarked, citing reformers like Savitribai Phule who pioneered women’s education as an instrument of emancipation.
The Speaker emphasized that Gender Responsive Budgeting should be institutionalized as a socio-economic model. He called for dedicated gender budget cells in ministries and state departments, increased allocations for healthcare, education, skills, entrepreneurship, and access to credit, and monitoring outcomes using gender-disaggregated data. “Budgets must act as tools of social justice and inclusive growth,” he said.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Turning to the digital era, Shri Birla said women must not be left behind in emerging technologies. He proposed nationwide digital literacy campaigns for women, modeled on earlier adult literacy missions, to ensure inclusive participation in the knowledge economy. Cyber safety and women’s participation in STEM fields, he added, are essential for making them active creators of technology.
Tirupati Resolution Adopted
The conference concluded with the unanimous adoption of the “Tirupati Resolution,” a roadmap to advance women’s education, health, safety, dignity, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion. The resolution pledged to:
- Apply a gender lens across all ministries and departments.
- Enhance allocations for healthcare, education, skills, and entrepreneurship.
- Institutionalize gender responsive budgeting.
- Strengthen technical capacity at national and state levels.
- Promote women’s participation in STEM and ensure cyber safety.
- Expand digital literacy programmes to bridge the digital divide.
Democracy as a Civilizational Value
On the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, Shri Birla also reminded that India, the “Mother of Democracy,” has for centuries upheld equality, dialogue, and participation as part of its civilizational ethos. He underlined that democracy in India is not just a political system but a way of life woven into the nation’s cultural and social fabric.
Celebrating Women’s Achievements
The Speaker highlighted stories of women from rural and marginalized communities who excelled in education, entrepreneurship, and leadership when given opportunities. These examples, he noted, demonstrate the transformative outcomes of inclusive policies and reaffirmed the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for all women.
With the adoption of the Tirupati Resolution, the conference has set a decisive framework for mainstreaming women’s empowerment into India’s developmental journey, reaffirming that women-led development is central to achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.