Garvita Odia
April 10, 2026,New Delhi: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone VII Conference concluded in Goa today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called for greater women’s representation in legislative bodies and emphasized youth participation in strengthening democracy. He said that women’s role in policymaking must expand from panchayats to Parliament, and public participation is key to deepening democratic processes.
The two-day conference witnessed active engagement from legislators who shared perspectives and discussed issues such as trade, sustainable development, maritime management, and the blue economy. Mr. Birla said empowering young legislators will be crucial to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, and highlighted the development model of coastal states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa.
Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju stressed the importance of meaningful debates in legislative bodies and called for longer, more productive sessions to address public issues. He urged opposition members to raise concerns constructively and emphasized innovation, inclusiveness, and technology-driven governance. A total of 51 legislators participated in the conference.
