“Equal Participation of Women Essential for Nation’s Progress,” Says President Droupadi Murmu

New Delhi, March 8: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that true national development can only be achieved when women, who make up nearly half of the country’s population, are given equal opportunities to participate in every sphere of life.

She made these remarks while addressing a national event organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to mark International Women’s Day in the national capital. The programme celebrated the achievements of women from different sectors and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to gender equality, dignity and safety for women.

During her address, the President highlighted the growing presence of women in fields such as education, governance, science, technology, medicine, entrepreneurship, arts and sports. She noted that women in rural regions are also becoming economically independent through self-help groups and are increasingly contributing to local development through their roles in panchayats and community institutions.

President Murmu said the country is steadily moving towards a model of women-led development. She pointed out that over the past decade several initiatives have aimed to remove barriers that hinder women’s progress. According to her, India has already achieved gender balance at the school education level, and women’s participation in higher education continues to expand, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programmes.

Referring to recent policy measures, the President mentioned that the Union Budget 2026–27 includes plans to establish women’s hostels in every district to support students pursuing STEM education. She said such initiatives will help more young women continue their studies and prepare them for leadership roles in the knowledge-driven economy.

The President also highlighted the growing role of women in entrepreneurship. She noted that a large number of startups supported under the Startup India initiative have at least one woman director. Additionally, more than two lakh women-led enterprises are currently registered on the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM), enabling them to access wider markets. She added that the recently announced SHE‑Mart initiative will further strengthen market opportunities for products created by rural women and self-help groups.

While acknowledging progress, President Murmu stressed that challenges such as discrimination, wage inequality and domestic violence still affect many women. She said legal reforms alone cannot eliminate these issues and called for a change in societal attitudes to ensure genuine equality.

The President urged citizens to support women’s aspirations and ensure that girls receive quality education and equal opportunities. She added that creating a society free from fear and discrimination would enable women to contribute fully to the nation’s growth as India works toward its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.