New Delhi, March 8 President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday praised the strength and achievements of women, and urged them to realize their full potential, saying, "We are no less than anyone else."
Addressing an event organized here by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to mark International Women's Day, the president said the occasion was not only to honor women's achievements but also to reaffirm the nation's commitment to their empowerment.
Murmu highlighted women's pioneering roles in education, administration, the judiciary, the armed forces, medicine, science, technology, the arts, entrepreneurship, and sports.
She noted that rural women are becoming economically self-reliant through self-help groups and are providing leadership in village development, while women continue to emerge as leaders in employment, startups, and the corporate sector.
"With opportunity and support, women can excel in every sphere," she said, adding, "Women are powerful; we are no less than others. We, too, have strength."
The president emphasized that while many achievements have been made, several obstacles still exist in ensuring women's equal participation in society. "These challenges cannot be resolved by law alone. It is necessary to change our mindset," she said.
She emphasized that parents must not discriminate between daughters and sons at home. She said mothers-in-law should not discriminate between their own daughters and daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law should be treated as daughters.
"True equality begins with recognizing every woman as a daughter, regardless of her role in the family," she added.
She congratulated the Ministry of Women and Child Development for organizing the 'Shakti Walk - SheLeadsBharat' on Sunday as part of the International Women's Day celebrations. The event featured a walk from India Gate to Vijay Chowk.
Murmu also lauded the dedication of women from across the country who participated in the event, highlighting their commitment to India's progress and the empowerment of women nationwide.
Recalling Dr B R Ambedkar's words, she said, "I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress women have achieved."
The president expressed satisfaction that the government of India has taken significant steps to prioritize women's empowerment, highlighting various programs including Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana; Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana; Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana; Mission Shakti and the Viksit Bharat - Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural), which includes women-focused provisions.
She also spoke about expanding women's participation in STEM education, leadership roles in rural and urban sectors, and initiatives such as Skill India and Startup India.
"...Women are increasingly becoming job creators. More than half of the startups supported under Startup India have at least one woman director. On the government e-Marketplace, over two lakh women-owned MSMEs are currently active," Murmu said.
To provide better market access for products made by self-help groups and rural women, the SHE-Mart initiative was launched in the 2026-27 Budget, which will establish community-run retail outlets in every district, she said.
Last year, labour codes were implemented to ensure a more inclusive, safe, and empowering work environment for women workers," she added.
President Murmu concluded by urging citizens to pledge to provide education, respect, and opportunities to every girl child to "prioritize women's safety and respect, and to strive to eliminate all forms of discrimination in society".
"By doing so, we can present an ideal model of women's empowerment to the world," she added.
