Geeta Koda becomes member of CWP steering committee
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan nominated her as a member of the CWP steering committee to represent the Indian region
Jagannathpur legislator Geeta Kora has been nominated as a member of the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians (CWP) Steering Committee.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan nominated her as a member of the CWP steering committee to represent the Indian region.
The two-time member of the legislative assembly from the iron ore belt in West Sighbhum district of Jharkhand and wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, happens to be the first woman from the state to represent the CWP.
The steering committee of CWP India region comprises one woman legislator from each of the four zones of the India Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) with the Lok Sabha Speaker as ex-officio chairperson.
“It’s a rare opportunity, I will make good use of the new opening and try my best to serve the interest of the state, women in particular,” she said.
Geeta contested the Jagannathpur seat first time in 2009 on a Jai Bharat Samanta Party (JBSP) ticket and won, beating Sonaram Birua (BJP). She tided over the Modi wave that saw the first majority government in Jharkhand led by the BJP and retained her seat in 2014 defeating the saffron party’s candidate Mangal Singh Soren.
The aim of CWP is to foster a closer relationship between women parliamentarians, discuss, strategise and act on gender related issues and include a gender perspective in all aspects of their role — legislation, oversight and representation.
The CWP steering committee member is also entrusted upon to increase women participation in Indian legislatures and provide opportunities to them in the future.
Besides this, a member is expected to have a greater depth of knowledge of parliamentary practice and procedures and in-depth and practical knowledge based on accepted theories and international good practices of parliamentary democracy.