**Executive Summary**
The first Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region, Zone-VII, concluded in Panaji, Goa, on April 10, 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla emphasized enhancing women's participation in governance and utilizing technology to strengthen public engagement. The conference established a collaborative roadmap for regional development and outlined a commitment to achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Inclusivity and Governance**
* **Women’s Participation:** Greater representation of women in legislative processes is essential to make policymaking more sensitive, people-centric, and aligned with societal needs.
* **Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam:** This initiative was highlighted as a framework to ensure women's contributions in lawmaking grow in proportion to their successes in other sectors.
* **Public Engagement:** Increased public participation is cited as the primary driver for more meaningful and effective policymaking.
**Technology and Youth Development**
* **Role of AI:** Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence should be used to strengthen public communication and deepen democratic engagement.
* **Skill Enhancement:** Technology must serve as a tool to enhance the skills and capacities of young people rather than wasting their time.
**Regional and Economic Development**
* **Coastal Strategy:** Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa are focused on developing coastal regions through models that convert environmental and industrial challenges into opportunities.
* **Key Initiatives:** Programs such as "Neer Kranti" and efforts to balance industrial growth with environmental preservation were identified as successful benchmarks.
* **Tourism Growth:** Goa was recognized as a premier global destination, while Maharashtra and Gujarat are making significant strides in expanding their tourism sectors.
**Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation**
* **Knowledge Sharing:** The conference facilitated the exchange of best practices among 31 legislators and Presiding Officers from states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana.
* **Healthy Competition:** There is a renewed emphasis on promoting healthy competition between states in trade, tourism, and innovation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Legislators and Presiding Officers**
**Impact**
They have been provided with a platform for formal and informal exchanges, sharing innovations, and learning from the parliamentary experience of senior officials.
**Action Required**
Return to their respective states with a resolve to implement long-term action plans for regional development and adopt a positive approach to transforming challenges into opportunities.
**Women in the Legislative Process**
**Impact**
Recognized as vital contributors whose leadership roles across sectors must now be reflected proportionally in policymaking and lawmaking.
**Action Required**
Increase participation in the legislative process to bring a fresh, constructive perspective to governance and development.
**Young People**
**Impact**
Identified as a demographic that must be protected from the time-wasting aspects of technology while being empowered by its capacity-building potential.
**Action Required**
Focus on using technological advancements as tools to enhance personal skills and contribute to the nation's innovation goals.
**State Governments (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa)**
**Impact**
Positioned as leaders in coastal development and tourism who must maintain a balance between industrial growth and environmental stability.
**Action Required**
Continue implementing initiatives like "Neer Kranti" and collaborate on achieving the "Viksit Bharat by 2047" goal through shared best practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone VII Conference: The primary event held in Goa to facilitate dialogue among legislators on governance, public participation, and regional development.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: A landmark legislative act referenced to highlight the objective of enhancing women's representation and leadership in policymaking.
Viksit Bharat by 2047: A national strategic vision for a developed India that served as the collective goal for the participating legislators.
Neer Kranti: An initiative cited as a successful model for coastal region development, balancing industrial growth with environmental sustainability.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa: The central states comprising CPA Zone VII, identified for their specific models in coastal development and tourism sectors.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
GREATER PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN WOULD
BRING GREATER SENSITIVITY TO
GOVERNANCE, MAKING POLICYMAKING MORE
PEOPLE-CENTRIC: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
INCREASED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION LEADS TO MORE
MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE POLICYMAKING: LOK
SABHA SPEAKER
TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NOT BE USED IN WAYS THAT
WASTE THE VALUABLE TIME OF YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT
RATHER SERVE AS A TOOL TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS
AND CAPACITIES: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
LOK SABHA SPEAKER ADDRESSES VALEDICTORY
SESSION OF COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY
ASSOCIATION (CPA) INDIA REGION ZONE VII CONFERENCE
Posted On: 10 APR 2026 6:45PM by PIB Mumbai
Panaji, Goa 10 April 2026:
The first Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India
Region, Zone – VII which was inaugurated yesterday by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om
Birla concluded today with the valedictory address of Governor, Goa, Shri P. Ashok
Gajapathi Raju.On the occasion, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla emphasized the need to further
enhance women’s participation in the legislative process. He noted that Indian
women are excelling across diverse sectors—including business, education, and
science—and their representation in policymaking and lawmaking should grow in
proportion to their contributions. Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,
Shri Birla observed that greater participation of women would bring greater
sensitivity to governance, making policymaking more people-centric and better
aligned with societal needs. He added that women are already playing leadership
roles across sectors and are contributing a fresh and constructive perspective to
governance and development.Highlighting the role of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in
strengthening public communication, Shri Birla observed that these advancements
are enabling greater citizen engagement in the democratic process. He underlined
that increased public participation leads to more meaningful and effective
policymaking. At the same time, he cautioned that technology should not be used in
ways that waste the valuable time of young people, but rather serve as a tool to
enhance their skills and capacities.
Referring to the discussions held during the Plenary Sessions, Shri Birla noted that
the three states of CPA Zone VII—Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa—have placed
strong emphasis on the development of coastal regions. He highlighted that these
states have demonstrated successful models of converting challenges into
opportunities. Initiatives such as Neer Kranti, along with efforts to promote
employment and industrial growth while maintaining environmental balance, were
cited as key examples. He further observed that Goa stands out as one of the
world’s most attractive tourist destinations, supported by its strong tradition of
hospitality, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are also making significant strides in the
tourism sector.Observing that young legislators engaged in detailed discussions during the
Conference, Shri Birla said that, in addition to MLAs from the three states, Presiding
Officers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana also participated in the
event. He informed that through extensive dialogue and interaction, an effort was
made to outline a clear roadmap for the future. He added that by combining
experience, youth, and innovation, the participants resolved to work collectively
towards achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Shri Birla underlined that the historic and landmark First Conference of CPA Zone
VII has proven to be highly significant in many respects. He noted that the
Conference benefited greatly from extensive formal and informal discussions among
legislators, as well as from the knowledge and rich parliamentary experience of the
distinguished Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who delivered
the Valedictory Address. Shri Birla informed that a total of 31 legislators shared
their views and experiences, offering valuable learning opportunities for all
participants.Shri Birla further noted with pride that both formal and informal exchanges during
the Conference facilitated the sharing of innovations and best practices. He
observed a strong emphasis on promoting healthy competition in trade, tourism,
and innovation, with participants also focusing on adopting a positive approach to
transform challenges into opportunities. He concluded his address with the hope
that the First Conference of CPA Zone VII will serve as a significant precedent for
democratic institutions across the country, and that participants will return to their
respective States with a renewed resolve to implement long-term action plans for
regional development and the vision of a developed India.
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker, Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar delivered the Welcome
Address on the occasion.
Goa Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, Joshua D’Souza delivered the Vote of
Thanks.
***
Ambadas Yadav/Parshuram Kor
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