Amid Gen Z protests over various issues, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said Parliament has a vital responsibility to listen to young voices and understand their hopes and concerns. He also highlighted that the regional conflicts, wars, economic instability, trade tensions, terrorism, and climate change across the world affect everyone.
Birla was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, held at the Parliament House. Parliamentary delegations from 11 member countries and 10 BRICS partner countries are attending the two-day conference. BRICS nations account for nearly half the world’s population and about a third of its land, along with a significant share of the global economy and trade.
Birla calls on parliaments to listen to young voices
In his address, drawing attention to the hopes and aspirations of the younger generation, Birla observed that today’s youth have growing access to quality education and technological knowledge, along with an immense desire to innovate, excel, and contribute to society. Their aspirations must be met with meaningful opportunities, dignity, and an enabling environment where their talents can flourish. “Parliaments have a vital responsibility to listen to young voices, understand their hopes and concerns, and create pathways through which their energy, creativity and capabilities could be channelled into nation-building,” he said,
Global challenges call for collective responsibility
Noting that the world was in a period of profound uncertainty, Birla highlighted the mounting challenges posed by regional conflicts, wars, economic instability, trade tensions, terrorism, and climate change. “Their consequences transcended national boundaries,” he said and accordingly called for a spirit of collective responsibility.
“In such a challenging global landscape, dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation assumed even greater significance. Parliaments, as vibrant expressions of the people’s will, could serve as bridges of understanding, strengthen mutual confidence, ease international tensions and help advance peaceful and constructive responses to global challenges,” Birla said. Further, through parliamentary diplomacy, elected representatives could exchange perspectives, draw upon shared experiences, identify common interests and open new avenues for meaningful international cooperation.
BRICS nations urged to strengthen parliamentary institutions
Emphasising the need for resilient parliamentary institutions, Birla said BRICS countries must continually strengthen their legislative frameworks and institutional capacities to ensure continuity, accountability, and effective democratic oversight, particularly in times of uncertainty and disruption. He observed that parliaments are living institutions that must evolve in step with the changing aspirations of the people. Their strength lay not merely in their constitutional authority but also in their ability to foster constructive dialogue, build consensus, uphold transparency and remain steadfastly accountable to the citizens they represent.
Birla stresses sustainable development and environmental protection
Turning to the imperative of sustainable development, Birla observed that Indian philosophical thought regarded development and environmental preservation as complementary, mutually reinforcing pursuits. He said this holistic perspective offered an important guiding principle for the parliaments of BRICS countries. “Development must not come at the cost of ecological balance; instead, policies for economic and social progress must be shaped by environmental responsibility, long-term sustainability and a deep commitment to safeguarding the interests of future generations,” he said while adding that collective action in this direction was indispensable to building a world that was prosperous, inclusive and environmentally secure.
Published on October 26, 2026
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