Speaker Meira Kumar in Patna on Saturday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Sept. 25: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today paid tribute to her late mother-in-law, Sumitra Devi, on the occasion of her 88th birth anniversary.

The function was organised by Samast Kisan Mazdoor Sangthan at the city planetarium. Sumitra Devi was the first woman from Bihar in the union council of ministers.

Talking about Sumitra Devi, Meira said: “Those days education for girls was not promoted by parents. But my mother-in-law was sent to school at the age of nine, that too thousands kilometer from home. She acquired education from Kanya Gurukul in Aligarh district”.

Remembering the moments shared with Sumitra Devi, Meira said: “The relation between me and my mother-in-law was like daughter and mother. Her nature and creativity always inspired me and I learnt many good things from her. She helped me in my career.” She further said: “My mother-in-law taught me how to balance profession and family life. She was a straight-forward person and never compromised with any situation.”

The Speaker said her mother-in-law played a role in shaping her political career. “Even though she was born in a simple family having strict traditional culture, she always thought and worked for the development of the society,” she said.

Meira thanked Haridwar Prasad Singh Kushwaha, president, Samast Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, for organising the function for the past eight years. Speaking on farmers’ issues, she said: “We must respect farmers. They play a significant role. We cannot live if they do not work. What they produce is what the nation eats.”

She further said: “Giving best of weapons and artillery to Army and sending them to the battlefield without food will result in defeat because empty stomachs can never win battles. In this way, we must give respect to the farmers who are working hard to produce food for the nation.”

She also said that the condition of farmers and workers in the country is very bad and steps should be taken to change it.

Speaking on the present condition of women, she said: “Much progress has been made, but even today, condition of women in Indian society is poor. We need to work hard to improve their situation and also remove discrimination between men and women.”