THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, MARCH 8, 2026
“To achieve development in the true sense, we
must ensure equal participation of women, who constitute nearly half of the
country’s population,” said Droupadi Murmu while addressing a national-level
celebration of International Women’s Day organised by the Ministry of Women and
Child Development in New Delhi on Saturday. The President emphasised that
empowering women and ensuring their active participation in every sphere of
life is essential for the country’s inclusive and sustainable development.
The event, organised
by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, brought together
policymakers, women achievers and representatives from diverse sectors to
celebrate the remarkable contributions of women and to reaffirm the nation’s
collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment.
Addressing the
gathering, the President noted that women today are playing a leading role in
almost every field, including education, administration, judiciary, military,
medicine, science, technology, arts and entrepreneurship. She highlighted that
women in rural areas are increasingly becoming financially self-reliant through
Self-Help Groups and are also taking leadership roles in panchayats,
contributing significantly to grassroots development. Many women are also
emerging as leaders in industry, startups and the corporate world, while
excelling in sports and other domains. Such achievements, she said, reinforce
the belief that with the right opportunities and support, women can attain
excellence in every field.
The President
observed that India is steadily progressing towards a model of women-led
development. Over the past decade, significant steps have been taken to remove
barriers that hinder women’s progress. She pointed out that India has achieved
gender parity in school education, while in higher education the Gross
Enrolment Ratio of female students now surpasses that of male students.
Participation of women in STEM education is also rising rapidly. To further
support this progress, the Union Budget 2026–27 has proposed the establishment
of a women’s hostel in every district to enable more female students pursuing
science and technology courses to continue their studies. This, she said, will
help prepare the country’s daughters for leadership roles in the knowledge
economy.
Highlighting women’s
growing role in entrepreneurship, the President said women are increasingly
becoming job creators. More than half of the startups supported under the
Startup India initiative have at least one female director. Additionally, over
two lakh women-owned MSMEs are currently active on the Government e-Marketplace
(GeM), enabling them to access wider markets and expand their businesses. She
also referred to the newly introduced SHE-Mart initiative announced in the
Union Budget 2026–27, which aims to provide improved market access for products
created by Self-Help Groups and rural women. The labour codes implemented last
year, she added, are expected to create a more inclusive, safe and empowering work
environment for women workers.
Despite the
significant progress made in recent years, the President acknowledged that
several challenges still remain in the path of women’s empowerment. Many women
continue to face issues such as discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and
domestic violence. She stressed that while legislation plays an important role
in addressing such concerns, it is equally important to bring about a
transformation in societal attitudes. True equality, she said, can only be
achieved when society moves beyond the mindset of gender-based discrimination.
Reiterating the importance of inclusive development, the President said India has set the ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Achieving this vision, she said, will require harnessing the full potential of every citizen, especially women. She emphasised that women must be encouraged to dream big and must receive unwavering support in pursuing their aspirations.
Calling for collective responsibility, the President urged citizens to pledge on International Women’s Day to ensure education and equal opportunities for every girl, prioritise the respect and safety of women, and work towards eliminating all forms of discrimination in society. By doing so, she said, India can set a global example of women’s empowerment and inclusive development.
