Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy Participates in Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town

Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy is on a visit to South Africa, where she participated in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference held in Cape Town.

The four-day conference, being held from September 14 to 17 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, has brought together representatives from 56 countries, including Speakers, ministers, MPs, legislators and parliamentary officials.

Addressing the conference, Padhy said India’s approach is to move forward together with development and stability. She stressed that development and climate resilience cannot be pursued separately.

She said climate-related challenges are closely linked with agriculture, water, energy, healthcare, urban development, infrastructure, forests, coastal areas and disaster management. According to her, state and local institutions play an important role in identifying solutions suited to local environmental conditions and available resources.

Padhy also highlighted the need to address pollution and climate change together. She said clean energy, energy efficiency, improved waste management and better economic practices can contribute to climate resilience, public health and improved quality of life.

Odisha’s Experience in Disaster Management Highlighted

Referring to Odisha’s experience in dealing with natural disasters, Padhy said the state has been able to overcome several challenges through early warning systems, cyclone shelters, evacuation mechanisms, institutional coordination and community participation.

She said climate change is not merely an environmental or scientific challenge and requires policy, legislative and budgetary interventions. She also underlined the importance of monitoring, accountability and community participation in strengthening climate resilience.

Padhy said Parliament has an important role in ensuring that development decisions make society safer in the future while protecting people’s lives, livelihoods, communities and the interests of future generations.

Indian Delegation Participates in Conference

More than 200 delegates from India are participating in the conference under the leadership of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. Speakers from 17 Indian states are also part of the delegation.

During the visit, Padhy participated in the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians programme and took part in a discussion on the participation of persons with disabilities in parliamentary systems.

Odisha Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhawani Shankar Bhoi and Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Rout are among the other members attending the conference.