Itanagar, April 15: Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, attended a Sammelan in Itanagar celebrating the spirit of women-led development and growing support for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, a law aimed at enhancing women’s representation in governance.
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| Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu receives a warm welcome with flower petals during the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Sammelan in Itanagar, celebrating women’s empowerment and leadership. (Image: x.com/PemaKhanduBJP) |
Addressing the gathering, Khandu expressed satisfaction over the strong support for the initiative, describing it as a transformative step toward empowering women and strengthening their role in governance and nation-building. He credited the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing the legislation that provides 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
Expressing hope that Arunachal Pradesh will one day have a woman Chief Minister, Khandu urged women to actively participate in public life and take up leadership roles beyond the 33 per cent reservation. Highlighting the current gap, he noted that women’s participation in policymaking remains low, with around 13.6 per cent representation in the Lok Sabha and about 9 per cent in state assemblies. He also pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh currently has only four women MLAs, underscoring the need for greater involvement of women in politics.
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The Chief Minister stressed that women must go beyond reservation and actively take up political leadership roles, calling their participation a key indicator of development and progress in society.
The Sammelan also featured the presence of prominent personalities including Yalem Taga Borang, Chairperson of the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women; Tendy Lamo, President of the Women Wing of the People's Party of Arunachal; and Ratan Anya from the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Inspirational addresses were delivered by Taba Jumshi, reigning Miss Arunachal 2025; Anshu Jamsenpa, the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh to scale Mount Everest and recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award; and Jaya Tasung Moyong, a teacher, social worker and founder of Women Against Social Evils (WASE).
Their speeches reflected courage, resilience and the growing role of women in shaping society in Arunachal Pradesh. The Sammelan reaffirmed the collective commitment to empowering women and ensuring their meaningful participation in governance and nation-building.
