New Delhi: Noting that the Lok Sabha election held earlier this year was the largest electoral exercise witnessed by humankind, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday that India’s successful conduct of elections strengthens democratic forces around the world.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 78th Independence Day, the President extended her heartiest greetings to the people. She said people in the country are on a mission to enable India reclaim its rightful position on the global stage.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024
“As general elections were held in our country this year, the number of eligible voters stood at nearly 97 crore. This was a historic record, making it the largest electoral exercise humankind has ever witnessed. The Election Commission of India should be congratulated for the smooth and flawless conduct of such a gigantic event. I thank all officials and security personnel who braved the heat and helped electors” she said.
“When such a large number of people exercise their franchise, it is a resounding vote for the idea of democracy. India’s successful conduct of elections strengthens democratic forces around the world,” she added.
Lauds The Unfurling Of Tiranga Across The Country
The President said witnessing the tri-colour being unfurled in different parts of the country is a thrilling experience. “I extend to you all my heartiest Independence Day greetings. I am delighted to see the nation prepare to celebrate the 78th Independence Day. Witnessing the tri-colour unfurl on this occasion, be it at the Red Fort, at state capitals or in local neighbourhoods, always thrills our hearts,” she said. “It is an expression of the joy of being part of our great nation along with more than 1.4 billion fellow Indians. Just as we celebrate various festivals with our families, we celebrate our Independence Day and Republic Day with our family that comprises our fellow citizens,” she added.
President Remembers The Freedom Fighters
The President recalled the sacrifices of freedom fighters and said patriotic and brave souls took immense risks and made supreme sacrifices. She said Indians participate in the flag-hoisting ceremonies, sing patriotic songs, and distribute sweets and young children participate in cultural events.
“When we hear them talking about our great nation and about the privilege of being a citizen of it, we find in their words echoes of what our great freedom fighters used to say. Then we realise that we are part of a chain that binds the dreams of those who participated in the freedom struggle and the aspirations of those who will witness the nation regaining its full glory in the years to come,” she said.
“Realising that we are links of this chain of history is humbling. It makes us recall the days when the nation was under a foreign rule. Patriotic and brave souls took immense risks and made supreme sacrifices. We salute their memory. Thanks to their unceasing labour, the soul of India awoke from centuries of torpor. Different traditions and values that had continued to live on beneath the surface found new expressions in several generations of great leaders…
“Unifying the diversity of traditions and their expressions was Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation and our lodestar. Alongside, there were great leaders like Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Babasaheb Ambedkar as well as Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and many others,” she added.
Remembering the tribals
The President said all communities took part in the freedom struggle which was a nationwide movement. Among tribals, there were Tilka Manjhi, Birsa Munda, Laxman Naik and Phulo-Jhano whose sacrifices are now being appreciated, she said.
The President said that the country has started celebrating the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and celebrations of his 150th birth anniversary next year will be an opportunity to further honour his contribution to the national re-awakening.
Partition Horrors
The President noted that the country is observing Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas, a day to recall partition horrors, August 14 and added that as the great nation was divided, millions had to suffer forced migration, lakhs of people lost their lives. “A day before we celebrate Independence Day, we recall that unparalleled human tragedy and stand with the families that were torn asunder,” she said.
Noting that the country is celebrating the 75th year of the Constitution, she said the journey of the newly independent nation was not without obstacles.”Remaining firm on the Constitutional ideals of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity, we are on the mission to enable India to reclaim its rightful position on the global stage,” she said.
Affirmative action must be strengthened as an instrument of inclusion
Recalling the words of BR Ambekdar about the need of making country’s political democracy a social democracy also, she said the 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.
“Social justice is a top priority of the Government, and it has taken a number of unprecedented initiatives for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised sections of society,” she added.
There is provision of reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in government jobs. There is also a provision of reservation for weaker sections in government-funded higher education institutions.
The President said that Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) aims to provide direct financial assistance to the people from the marginalised communities and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan has taken the form of a mass campaign for critical interventions to improve socio-economic conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
She said that National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem or the NAMASTE scheme will ensure that no sanitation workers will have to manually engage in the hazardous task of sewer and septic tank cleaning.
Rduction In People Below Poverty Line, Hails The Farmers
She said that India has been among the fastest-growing major economies with an average growth rate of 8 percent annually from 2021 to 2024. “This has not only put more money in the hands of people, it has also drastically reduced the number of people living below the poverty line. As for those who continue to suffer from poverty, all efforts are being made not only to provide a helping hand to them, but also to bring them out of it,” she said.
The President noted that PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, launched in the initial phase of Covid-19, continues to provide free ration to about 80 crore people, which also ensures that those who have recently come out of poverty are not forced back into it.
She said India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world and is poised to become one of the top three economies soon. “This has been made possible only by tireless hard work of farmers and workers, by the farsightedness of planners and wealth-creators, and by the visionary leadership. Farmers, our Annadata, have ensured that agricultural production continues to beat expectations. With this, they have contributed immensely to making India self-reliant in agriculture and feed our people.”
India’s Infrastructure Sector Receives The Boost
The President said infrastructure has received a boost in recent years and strategic planning and effective institutions have helped expand the network of roads and highways, railways as well as ports. “Considering the great potential of futuristic technology, the Government has vigorously promoted a range of sectors, such as semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, while also creating an ideal ecosystem for startups which will propel their growth. It has made India an even more attractive investment destination,” she said.
“With greater transparency, the banking and financial sector has become much more efficient. All of these factors have set the stage for the next generation of economic reforms and economic growth that will catapult India among the developed nations,” she added.
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