FICCI–KAS Dialogue Series – Powered by FLO Dialogue IV: ‘Women Parliamentarians as Change Agents’

FICCI Forum of Parliamentarians and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in association with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), organised a panel discussion on “Women Parliamentarians as Change Agents” under the fourth FICCI KAS Dialogue Series.

The FICCI-KAS Dialogue Series is an endeavour to bring together elected representatives, thought leaders, opinion shapers and subject experts to discuss new paradigms of international game changers, topics of contemporary interest that are of high geo-economic and strategic relevance to India and the world.

The fourth Dialogue of the FICCI KAS Series has invited five women Parliamentarians and discussed how women legislators act as change agents for the enhanced presence of women in the legislative process and as enablers for women’s participation in the economy. In a holistic manner, it discussed gender balanced economic development. The Dialogue aimed to create a platform for discussing the strategy required to ensure adequate representation of women at different platforms of governance in India.

The esteemed Panelists were the Hon’ble Members of Parliament:

1. Smt. K Kavitha, Telangana Rashtra Samithi
2. Ms. Sushmita Dev, Indian National Congress
3. Smt. Supriya Sule,  Nationalist Congress Party
4. Smt. Poonam Mahajan, Bharatiya Janata Party
5. Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, All India Trinamool Congress

Shri Baijayant “Jay” Panda, Former Member of Parliament was the moderator for the session.

FLO was represented by Ms Pinky Reddy, National President -FLO; FICCI was represented by Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia, Past President, FICCI and KAS by Mr Peter Rimmele, Resident Representative to India, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).

Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman FICCI’s Forum of Parliamentarians Council and Past President FICCI mentioned that the under-representation of women constitutes a serious democratic deficit, which undermines the legitimacy of the contemporary democratic ideal. It is important to have a strategy to ensure adequate representation of women at different platforms of governance in India.

Pinky Reddy, National President -FLO said, “We cannot deny that women’s leadership in political decision-making is a fundamental for gender equality. It facilitates women’s direct engagement in public decision-making. It is also a means of ensuring better accountability to women.”

She added, “Through this dialogue, we would like to highlight on the opportunities, challenges and strategy required to ensure adequate representation of women at different platforms of governance in India.”

In his vote of thanks, Mr Peter Rimmele said, “There is a need for female political leadership, as women in power act as role models and set examples for generations to come. Economies grow, when more women work.”