March 08, New Delhi – President Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed an event organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on the occasion of International Women's Day in New Delhi. The national-level program was organized to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across diverse fields and to reaffirm the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity, and empowerment of women.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that women are playing a leading role in every field—education, administration, judiciary, military, medicine, science, technology, arts, and entrepreneurship. She stated that women in rural areas are becoming financially self-reliant through Self-Help Groups and are providing leadership in rural development at the panchayat level. Many women are leveraging their abilities to provide leadership in industry, startups, and the corporate world, while also excelling in sports. She said that such examples instill confidence that, given opportunities and support, women can achieve excellence in every field.
The President said that India is rapidly moving towards women-led development, and that over the past decade, a strong foundation has been laid for removing barriers in the path of women. She noted that India has achieved gender parity in school education and that in higher education, the number of female students is higher in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio. Women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is also rapidly increasing.
She said that the Union Budget 2026–27 provides for the establishment of a women's hostel in each district to help STEM students continue their studies and added that daughters are getting ready for leadership roles in the knowledge economy. The President said that women are emerging as job creators, noting that more than half of the start-ups receiving support under the Startup India scheme have at least one female director. She added that more than two lakh women-owned MSMEs are currently active on the Government e-Marketplace. The SHE-Mart initiative, launched in the Union Budget 2026–27, will provide better markets for products made by self-help groups and rural women.
The President said that the labour codes implemented last year aim to provide a more inclusive, safe, and empowering work environment for women workers. She added that despite numerous efforts toward women's empowerment, many obstacles still remain in their journey of development. Even today, she said, many women face problems such as discrimination, unequal pay for equal work, and domestic violence. These issues, she said, cannot be addressed solely through legislation and require a shift in societal mindset to move beyond gender-based discrimination and establish true equality in society.
