President Droupadi Murmu on Monday remembered former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for creating Uttarakhand and said the Himalayan state needs more women members in the legislature.
She also praised the state for enacting the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Addressing a special session of the House here, she said, “This state was established in November 2000 under the premiership of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee for better governance and balanced development in line with the aspirations of the people”
“Uttarakhand achieved impressive growth in its journey of 25 years. State has made commendable progress in environment, energy, tourism, healthcare and education. There has been immense development in digital and physical connectivity infrastructure as well.
“The state has seen improvements in several parameters of the human development indices. I am pleased to know that literacy, particularly women’s education, has increased in the state as maternal and infant mortality rates have gone down.
“I especially appreciate the efforts being made in the direction of women empowerment. The efforts toward women’s empowerment will advance the glorious tradition of extraordinary women like Sushila Baluni, Bachendri Pal, Gaura Devi, Radha Bhatt and Vandana Katariya,” said the president in her 17-minute address.
Murmu, however, asked the people and other stakeholders in the state to increase the strength of women in the assembly. She said, “I hope that with the active efforts of all stakeholders, the number of women in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will increase in future.”
She appreciated the Uttarakhand government’s enactment of UCC in tune with the ethos of the constitution of India.
“Our constitution makers had provided for the creation of a ‘Uniform Civil Code for the citizens’ under Article 44. I commend the members of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly who were involved in implementing the Uniform Civil Code Bill in line with the policy directive of the Constitution makers” added Murmu.
Besides UCC president also applauded the Uttarakhand government making anti-copying and state centric land laws.
“I have been informed that more than 550 Bills were passed in the Uttarakhand legislative assembly in 25 years. These include Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Bill and Anti-Copying Bill. I appreciate all the past and present legislators for passing such bills inspired by transparency, ethics and social justice,” he added.