Tendencies that fuel discord over perceived social hierarchies must be rejected: President Murmu

New Delhi: President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday stressed the need to strengthen affirmative action as a tool for integration, while calling for rejecting divisive tendencies rooted in perceived social hierarchies.

In her address to the nation on the eve of the 78th Independence Day, Murmu highlighted the steady progress of political democracy in India, saying it reflected progress towards social democracy.

She noted that a nation thrives on its diversity and pluralism, developing as a coherent whole.

“Social justice is the top priority of the Narendra Modi government, which has initiated unprecedented measures to ensure the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised communities,” the president said.

She quoted B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, emphasising that “political democracy cannot endure unless it has social democracy at its core” and stated that the steady progress of political democracy testifies to the progress towards the consolidation of social democracy.

The spirit of inclusiveness permeates every aspect of our social life. We work together as a cohesive nation with our diversity and pluralism. Affirmative action must be strengthened as an instrument of inclusiveness. I strongly believe that in a country as vast as ours, tendencies to foment discord on the basis of perceived social hierarchies must be rejected,” she said.

Murmu detailed several government initiatives aimed at uplifting the lives of marginalised groups, including the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ), which provides direct financial assistance, and the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), which focuses on improving the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).

She also mentioned the NAMASTE programme, which aims to eliminate the need for manual cleaning by ensuring sanitation workers do not perform hazardous tasks.

The President stressed the importance of justice in the broadest sense of the word, especially in the context of gender and climate justice.

She admitted that although women are seen as equals in Indian society, traditional prejudices still persist.

Murmu noted that over the past decade, government actions have resulted in a tripling of budget allocations for women’s welfare, leading to increased female participation in the labour force and an improvement in the sex ratio at birth.

“But I am happy to note that the government is giving equal importance to women’s well-being and empowerment. The budget allocation for this purpose has more than tripled in the last decade,” she said.

She cited the Women’s Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) as an important step towards women empowerment.

Speaking about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, President Murmu highlighted the record-breaking turnout of nearly 970 million eligible voters, calling it the biggest election in history.

She commended the Electoral Commission and security staff for ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections, saying that the universal exercise of suffrage is a strong affirmation of democracy.

“When such a large number of people exercise their right to vote, it is a loud voice for the cause of democracy. The successful conduct of elections in India strengthens democratic forces around the world,” she said.

Hailing farmers as “Annadata” (food providers), she praised their contribution to India’s agricultural self-sufficiency. “By doing so, they have made a huge contribution to India’s agricultural self-sufficiency and feeding our people,” she said.

Murmu has also seen significant improvements in infrastructure, including roads, railways and ports, resulting from strategic planning and effective institutions.

She also pointed out that the government is promoting sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, which is creating a conducive environment for startups and making India more attractive as an investment destination.

“Given the immense potential of futuristic technology, the government has been vigorously promoting several sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, while creating an ideal ecosystem for startups to fuel their growth. This has made India an even more attractive investment destination,” she said.

With increased transparency in the banking and financial sector, she expressed optimism about the prospects of economic growth that could propel India to a place among the developed countries.

In her speech, the President also emphasised that the celebration of Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas (Day of Remembrance of the Atrocities of Partition) is an expression of reflection on the human tragedy of partition, which led to immense suffering and loss of life.

“As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we must remember this unprecedented tragedy and show solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy,” she concluded.

PTI