SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE DR. V.N. TEWARI MEMORIAL ORATION AT PANJAB UNIVERSITY

Chandigarh, 17th March, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to participate in today's function and to deliver the Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Oration.

Dr. Tewari was a multi-faceted personality who, as an educator and as a researcher, contributed immensely to the field of education. He was a writer and a poet, winning acclaim for his creative writing, and for which he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1982. As a Parliamentarian, he demonstrated political wisdom and humanism. His life of promise was cut short on April 3, 1984 when he was assassinated by terrorists. His deep patriotism continues to be a source of inspiration and, on its part, the Panjab University hosts an annual lecture in honour of his memory. The topic for today, 'Women as drivers of a rising India' provides an opportunity to look at the role of women in national affairs, and at a phase when India is on the rise.

The nation-building process of free India began soon after it attained independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister spoke about India's destiny as a rising star - the star of freedom in the East. We have with our perseverance and efforts, achieved much. Our uninterrupted democratic credentials and our steady economic progress, have fortified India's stature as a leading nation of the world. The future of India is optimistic, but we must not be complacent as a nation's work never ends. We must prepare for the future world, whose contours will be shaped by innovation, technology and a spirit of enterprise. As we focus on these areas and, on building of infrastructure as well as rural and urban development, it should be our incessant endeavour to be a stable and inclusive society. There are the weaker and the vulnerable sections of society, who are not yet full partners in the growth and development process and remain on the sidelines. Our narrative of growth should be a story of opportunity, with a sense of satisfaction and a life of dignity for all - men and women.

Women are half of the population of this country and their contribution can double national growth. The Father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi said, "Salvation of India lies in the elevation of her women". It is because of the many roles that a woman plays, that she is a critical determinant of the future. As a mother, she imparts values to the future generation. As a member of the society, she makes it stable and more humane, and imparts an emotional content to society. As a citizen of the country, she can contribute to its productivity, its growth, prosperity and well-being. This places her in a position to be a driver of change and growth in a rising India.

Gender equality and advancement of women, is one of the most critical aspects of development in all parts of the world, as in our country. In India, in our work, we draw inspiration from the remarkable contributions of the numerous women who achieved eminence in the spiritual field and in the battlefield, in social and literary areas, as also in political activities, including from their active participation in our freedom movement. We also draw strength from our enlightened Constitution. The women of our nation did get a head-start in free India as universal adult franchise was adopted. They got voting rights along with their male counterparts. This was not the case in many other countries, where women had to strive to get their voting rights. In the more than 60 years since our independence, we have made some significant strides in empowering our women. We followed a three pronged strategy consisting of social empowerment, economic empowerment and issues relating to gender justice. Women have been elected to the office of the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Leader of the Opposition is also a woman. At the grass roots level, there are over a million elected women representatives in local bodies in villages and towns. Women are taking leadership roles, and it will change the face of the country for the better. Many women in India have reached high positions, and many others are excelling in administration, science, arts, and humanities and, even in professions once unthinkable for women. Women's entry into new areas, such as an all women battalions in the Central Reserve Police Force are becoming the drivers of change. All this will bring a silent revolution in the status of women in our country. Through their enterprising spirit, their professions and careers, the Self Help Group movement and such other activities, they are getting economically empowered. This is not only empowering themselves but also the nation. I am, however, conscious about the constraints and difficulties that they face in realizing their full potential. Our efforts to empower women through education, awareness and opportunities must continue. We should aim at creating an enabling environment, provide adequate education and offer quality in every sphere of national life - political, economic and social. Wings of change are already blowing, and we need to carry this forward to its logical conclusion. In this endeavour, the State, civil society and society at large, have a significant role to play.

We must have a forward looking agenda for strengthening the processes that promote the development of women. The Self-Help movement has been particularly successful in enabling women to create economically sustainable models of growth. This movement needs further encouragement, and I am glad that the Government seeks to strengthen this movement, including through the establishment of a development fund for women's SHGs. Women's organizations are important platforms for building a collective voice, for taking action to address issues relating to them, as well as to society.

Women have been more successful when they receive support of their families. Like every member of the family, women contribute to creating a stable family structure, and they in turn, benefit from the support that they receive. A woman has been endowed with a special gift from nature to keep the cord of love strong in the family, which binds the family into a loving, healthy and cultured family. Women's education is of fundamental importance, as educated women tend to provide better guidance to their families, especially to their children. They can help other women to become self-reliant and self-confident. They can counsel other women, as well as share experiences about career choices, employment opportunities, and business enterprises, and also in matters like health, nutrition and childcare. If the women of India work in this collective and collaborative spirit, change would be inevitable, and change would be that which recognizes, in full measure, the talent and potential of women.

Today, there are fewer women in India than men, and if this trend continues it would have negative impact on society itself. Punjab and Haryana are states that are already seeing the implications. Women, particularly already those empowered, can be an effective voice for articulating women related causes, including in the fight against social evils like female foeticide, child marriage, dowry and addictions, as well as against the discrimination and biases that exist in society against women. An agenda for the empowerment of women should cover gender needs and concerns, at every stage and sphere of life - from protection in the womb, by prohibiting female foeticide; to preventing female infanticide, by giving better nutrition and care to the girl child, and addressing gender preferences in families; to giving equal education opportunities for the girl child, by sensitizing society to look at a girl child as a boon; to making women economically independent by imparting skills to them; to making work places safe for women, by having fast track implementation of stringent laws against sexual harassment; to addressing issues like dowry and domestic violence; and to making women feel secure, by taking deterrent action against those who indulge in all kinds of reprehensible acts. Secure women make for a secure nation. I am proud that there have been instances, where young girls and women have demonstrated courage to stand up and fight against evils and discrimination. These women require support and assistance.

Gender equality is not an agenda of women versus men; rather men should be partners in the empowerment of women. History has many examples where men have been at the forefront in fighting for women's causes. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known for his efforts to abolish the practice of Sati. Swami Dayanand Saraswati promoted education for girls and women. Jyotirao Phule is known for his efforts to educate women of the lower castes, as well as the masses. He, after specially educating his wife for that purpose, opened a school for girls in India in August 1848, one of the first girls' schools in India. I am sure that through such a collaborative approach, the foundations of a society, in which men and women work together shoulder to shoulder, with a feeling of respect, can be laid. The Panchayati Raj Act providing for 33 percent reservation for women was an important step taken with the co-operation and help of our brothers, and our sisters should appreciate it.

Once Jawaharlal Nehru said, "you can tell the status of a nation by looking at the status of its women". I believe that women's empowerment will bring many overall benefits. It will make women confident and secure. It will equip them to make choices, to take informed decisions, and to determine the course of their life. There may be difficulties and struggles but efforts must continue. Louisa May Alcott, an American woman writer, who was also an advocate for women's suffrage, wrote in the 19th Century that, "I am not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship." It is in this spirit, that the women should proceed ahead. Their empowerment is necessary, and that can only come through health, education and economic development; through enhancing their status in the house, society and the country. We should make use of their potential and talents for the development and well being of this country. It is their driving force that keeps family stability and ties together, as also keeps the nation together, so that it progresses. This driving force should be put to work.

I once again convey my very good wishes to all present here. I would like to thank the Panjab University, its Vice-Chancellor and Member of Parliament, Manish Tewari for inviting me to this function.

Thank you.

Jai Hind!