President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said active participation of women is necessary for the country to leverage its demographic dividend and achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
Speaking at the centenary celebrations of St Teresa’s College in Kochi, she noted that empowering women through education was essential for India to achieve inclusive growth and realise its demographic potential
Murmu underlined that women’s active participation in the workforce is critical for India to leverage its demographic dividend and realise the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. “One of the key pillars for achieving the vision of a developed India is to ensure 70 per cent women workforce participation,” she said.
Applauding St. Teresa’s College for its century-long dedication to women’s education and its role in shaping generations of socially responsible citizens, the president said that the college has played a vital role in empowering women and advancing nation-building.
“We should deeply acknowledge the vision and legacy of distinguished personalities who built this institution and led it through a century of sustained accomplishments,” she said.
Highlighting Kerala’s rich legacy of women leaders, the President recalled that three of the fifteen women members of India’s Constituent Assembly, Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene, and Dakshayani Velayudhan, were from the state. She also noted the innovative achievements of Justice Anna Chandy, India’s first woman High Court judge, and Justice M. Fathima Beevi, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
“Fifteen exceptional women members of the Constituent Assembly added rich perspectives in the making of the Constitution of India. Of those fifteen outstanding women, three were from Kerala.
“Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene and Dakshayani Velayudan had influenced deliberations on fundamental rights, social justice and gender equality, as also on several other important aspects. The first lady to become a High Court Judge in India was Justice Anna Chandy. In 1956, she became a judge in the High Court of Kerala. Justice M. Fathima Beevi made history when she became the first lady judge in the Supreme Court of India in 1989,” President Murmu said.
President Murmu highlighted that Gender Budget allocation has increased four and a half times during the last decade. Women-led MSMEs nearly doubled between 2011 and 2024. One of the key pillars for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is to achieve 70 per cent women workforce participation. Women from different socio-economic segments have been driving India’s progress, she said.
Stating that that the bright women students of St. Teresa’s College represent young India, thriving India and vibrant India, the president expressed happiness over the college’s new initiative titled SLATE — Sustainability, Leadership and Agency through Education, describing it as aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“By connecting young people with India’s Sustainable Development Goals and enabling them for the jobs of tomorrow, this initiative will help India emerge as a knowledge superpower,” she said
She also lauded the college’s community radio initiative, Radio Kochi 90FM, for promoting grassroots participation and supporting local communities during times of need.
Calling upon the young women students to pursue their passions with courage and clarity, President Murmu urged them to become agents of change“A society led by women leaders is likely to be more humane while being more efficient,” she said , and added.
“I am confident that this generation of young women students will lead India into becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047,” she added.