By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday said women’s leadership, youth engagement and environmental consciousness are central to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, while addressing the closing ceremony of the ‘Run for Mother Earth’ event at Brahma Kumaris’ Shanti Bhavan in Kingsway Camp.
Speaking as chief guest, Gupta described women’s empowerment as essential to nation-building, saying equal participation in leadership and decision-making was necessary to realise India’s long-term development goals. Referring to women as embodiments of “Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga”, he said Nari Shakti remained integral to India’s civilisational and democratic strength.
Highlighting women’s political representation, Gupta expressed disappointment over the failure to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, in the Lok Sabha, calling it a missed opportunity for democratic progress. He said the setback raised serious questions over the pace of institutional reform and warned that the goal of Viksit Bharat@2047 would remain incomplete without equal representation for women in legislative bodies.
The Speaker also underlined the growing role of young people, particularly young women, in shaping a more inclusive and future-ready India. He said initiatives such as ‘Run for Mother Earth’ were fostering civic responsibility, environmental awareness and leadership among the youth, while helping cultivate discipline, confidence and collective responsibility.
Gupta praised the large participation of young women at the event, describing it as a sign of expanding inclusion in public life. He also commended organisers for bringing together environmental responsibility, women’s empowerment and youth engagement on a single platform.
Prizes were distributed to participants during the programme in recognition of their contribution and enthusiasm. Gupta expressed confidence that such initiatives would continue to strengthen public participation and support the foundations of an inclusive society.
