“Modi govt has taken numerous initiatives for welfare of SC, ST and marginalised sections. Social justice is the top priority of the Modi govt,” said President Droupadi Murmu. Addressing the nation on the eve of th e78th Independence Day, she said affirmative action must be strengthened as an instrument of inclusion.
She said, “I firmly believe tendencies that stoke discord based upon perceived social hierarchies have to be rejected.”She emphasised the need to strengthen affirmative action as a tool for inclusion while urging the rejection of divisive tendencies rooted in perceived social hierarchies.
She noted that the nation thrives on its diversity and plurality, moving forward as a cohesive entity. “Social justice is a top priority for the Narendra Modi government, which has initiated unprecedented measures for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other marginalised communities,” she added.
She quoted B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, emphasising that “political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy” and said steady progress of political democracy testifies to the progress made towards the consolidation of social democracy.
“The spirit of inclusion pervades every aspect of our social life. We move together as a cohesive nation with our diversity and plurality. Affirmative action must be strengthened as an instrument of inclusion. I firmly believe that in a vast country like ours, tendencies that stoke discord based upon perceived social hierarchies have to be rejected,” she said.
She also mentioned the NAMASTE scheme, designed to eliminate manual scavenging by ensuring sanitation workers do not engage in hazardous tasks.
The president stressed the importance of justice in its broadest sense, particularly in terms of gender and climate justice. She acknowledged that while women in Indian society are seen as equals, traditional prejudices persist.
Murmu noted that government efforts have tripled budget allocations for women’s welfare over the past decade, leading to increased female labor participation and an improved sex ratio at birth.
“But I am glad to note that the government has given equal importance to women’s welfare and women’s empowerment. The budget allocation for this purpose has more than tripled in the last decade,” she said.